Resume Format
There should not be a limit or specific guideline of what your resume should look like, remember that it is a unique self marketing document that should contain information on what you think is relevant to industry or position you are applying for.

Pre-defined Resume Formats
If you choose to go with mainstream resume formatting then it is best practice to choose the most effective resume writing format. The most effective is the combination format, which is a combination of a traditional chronological resume format and the functional format. Let me break it down further:

Chronological format – Contains all your previous job experiences, position, date, how long you held the job and other information arranged in reverse chronological order (starting with recent job first), this is the most common format used for resume writing.

Functional Resume – This resume format categorizes all your abilities and emphasizes your skills based on your job description. Mostly used when you transfer to a job of the same position.

Cover Letters
Having a solid cover letter can mean the difference between getting your resume read or not. Make sure to use proper business letter form, and address it to a specific person.

Showcase Your “Home Run” Accomplishments
Always, always, include all relevant achievements in writing a resume; it has always been good practice to take note of breakthroughs and “home runs” that you have done in your previous jobs. Showcase them and place them on the top, this is like showing off your trophies thereby implying that you possess great skills by achieving these accomplishments.

Write down your Educational background
If you just recently finished your college education then it would be best to place your educational background on top of your resume where it is easily seen. If you finished it a while back and had a previous job unrelated to your educational background, then place it at the bottom to give more emphasis on your previous employment, achievements and skills.

Never Lie on Your Resume
If you lack a specific skill or experience that an employer is looking for, never resort to placing fictitious jobs or backgrounds on your resume, instead you could place related skills or a note on your cover letter that you are willing to learn or be trained for that specific skill. Most employers will appreciate your initiative and most likely consider you even if you lack the experience or skill.

Resume length
You are not writing an autobiography, so keep it short and concise, containing only relevant information, achievements, and skills. You don’t have to include your medal when you won second place on the potato sack race in 7th grade.

No personal information
Never include personal information such as religion, height, eye color, status, etc. These are not required and will only be junk in the eyes of hiring managers. It is also illegal in the US for employers to ask for this information as requirement for a job application.

Salary histories
There are instances when this is required, but confirm it first, otherwise don’t include this on your resume.

Brief period of employment
Sometimes there are jobs that were just not suited for us, so if you choose to include that particular job on your resume, it is better to just state the year you were employed rather than specific dates.

Writing Creative Resumes
This is only applicable if you are applying for specific industries that you think would appreciate a non traditional approach, like web designing, arts, music, advertising and other fields like these. You can make your resume look like a brochure or an advertisement, be creative.

Proofread
Misspellings or incorrect grammar can spell disaster for anyone writing a resume. You may say that these are just minor errors, but errors can tell an employer a lot. Error-free resume writing can show not just writing skills but also your focus, competence and consistency, this is also inversely true. So proofread and proofread some more, you might spot errors you didn’t spot a few hours ago.

Jargon
Use industry specific jargon when writing your resume, but don’t overdo it. Using a few jargon words establishes that you are familiar with the industry.

Resume Banks
Employ the use of online resume banks, there are numerous job sites that offer this service, and more often than not, employers search these banks for qualified job candidates.

Read to yourself
Finally, when you’re done with your resume writing, try and read it for yourself, and then gauge your satisfaction of what your resume contains. Does it make you proud? After all it is “you” that you’re trying to market, it’s your name that’s on top, and ultimately to your advantage if you do everything right.

Source(s):www.gopinov.com