Following these 10 Easy Steps will bring you to the point where you can use your own discretion for improvements or modifications to your resume. There are no magic bullets to having a great resume. Showing clear progression and professional growth will get you noticed. Being able to clearly discuss your career progression as it relates to your goals will help you get the job.

1. First, list all jobs you’ve had in reverse chronological order from your current position down to your first professional position. (Those with less experience should consider adding legitimate Internships or major College Group Projects.) Just start writing or typing.
2. Add each Promotion/Title change at each employer including the dates that such progressions took place wherever applicable.
3. Now for the details. For each Title you’ve held, list your Duties, daily Activities, Reporting structure (who you worked for or who reported to you). Don’t worry about format or the amount of data you write down, we’ll get to that later.
4. Add Accomplishments, Goals you reached, Improvements you made, Processes you’ve streamlined, Input you made that added to the bottom line.
5. Write down your Education achievements and Certifications.
6. Write down your Technical skills for Hardware, Software, Programming languages, Databases, Middleware, Communications, and Networking. Or, those skills relevant to your career field.
7. Now, organize your data by this order: Your Name and Contact Information (centered), Education and Certifications, Technical or Skills Summary, Work Experience, Publications/Speaking Engagements/Workshops (if any). State Objectives and the Position you are interested in on the Cover Letter. Use your own discretion.
8. Go back and read your resume for “back-patting”. Your resume should contain facts, not adjectives or subjective comments. If you say that you increased/decreased or improved/enhanced anything, be prepared to back it up with very specific data. In regard to the length of your resume, ask yourself if what you are writing down is something you’d talk about during an interview. If it is, write it down (within reason).
9. Review your resume for spelling and grammar (run the spell and grammar checkers). Have a friend or two review your resume and ask for their honest opinion.
10. Write a cover letter specifically stating what position you are applying for and briefly describe the experience you have relating to the opening. Highlight the value that you can bring to the prospective employer. Try to get names and titles of the decision makers so that you address your cover letter and resume to the proper people. If you don’t get any feedback, call and politely find out the status of your resume as well as where the company is in the interview process. The squeaky wheel gets the grease!