What Employers Look for in a Quality Resume

So you're contemplating a job change in the near future? Well, if you're attempting to keep your career on track, you should have a game plan in mind for your career that includes moving up the ladder once approximately every two to three years. One of the first things any job seeker must do prior to engaging in a career search, is to create or update their resume.

What exactly is the purpose of a resume, or Curriculum Vitae, besides the obvious? What is the most widely accepted format for resumes? Is it perfectly acceptable to add "flare" to your resume, to ensure recruiters and employers take notice? Let's take deeper look at your resume, and discuss these issues in detail.

According to Wikipedia, the formal definition of a resume, is is a document containing a summary or listing of relevant job experience and education, usually for the purpose of obtaining an interview when seeking employment. Additionally referred to as a Curriculum Vitae, which is the Latin term for "course of life," your resume should be updated on a regular basis, to reflect new employers, additional educational courses, and relevant work experiences that are in direct line with your career goals. For instance, if you are a professional author, who was recently had a published work in a major magazine, you would want to add this to your resume, so that this experience could embellish your current successes in your chosen field. Conversely, should you take a needlepoint class at a local Junior College, you would not add this to your resume; because this serves only for your personal pleasure, and in no way furthers your career goals. When it comes to preparing or updating your resume, the key point to keep in mind, is what have I done in my life, that is an experience which enhances my abilities to reach my ultimate career goals.

There are several types of resume formats to choose from, including the following:
~ Chronological

~ Functional

~ Chrono-Functional

~ Hybrid

~ Combination

~ Scannable

~ PDF

~ Web-based