There are a number of misconceptions about what a resume should be. Let's correct some of the mistakes people make that can derail a good impression.

Myth 1. A resume must include every job since I began working.

The answer is not always. You only need to go back 10 years in your job history. If you are fresh out of school and held one or two jobs, all your job history is likely a good idea. But it is much more important to show how your background is pertinent and fits the next job you are interested in. That means that it should emphasize the applicable job history and de-emphasize the history that is unrelated to your next job. How do you do that?

Don't throw your old resume away. Instead, consider rethinking your matching skills and then cutting and pasting the information into a "functional" format (Functional Example) rather than a standard "chronological" format.

Myth 2. A resume needs to include everything I have ever done. Showing more will impress them.

The answer is no. Put yourself in the position of someone who has to read hundreds of resumes that came in for a specific job. How much effort would you be willing to put out to find matching skills buried in the jumble of unrelated stuff? Again, a "functional" format may help give your resume a tighter focus.

A good resume needs to:

1. Be easy read and not exceed two (2) pages

2. Be free of spelling errors and extra unrelated junk

3. Match (to the extent possible) the experience, skills, education and other information the the hiring company is looking for

So, how do you accomplish these three critical factors? Based on my ten years of Human Resources experience, here are some ideas about what to place (and things to avoid) in your resume:

Customize Your Resume for Each Job

Do not send the same resume to every job lead. Focus your resume specifically to the position and the employer. As you work on your resume, keep your reader in mind and remember his/her basic concern: will this candidate add value at our firm? If you answer effectively by highlighting relevant skills, personal characteristics and accomplishments, your resume will open the door and generate an interview.

One page or two?

One page resumes are great but sometimes you need the second page if the format is chronological and you need to include additional information. Your resume should never be more than two pages.

Use the Same Exact Keywords that are used in the Ad Description

Keywords include skills, titles, degrees, and occupational buzzwords. Keywords are especially important to use when you post your resume online. Some companies screen and eliminate resumes that do not include certain terms.

Professional Look

The design of your resume is just as important as content. Your resume has less than 20 seconds to catch someone's attention, so it must be eye-catching and easy to read.

Warning: Resist using one of the pre-loaded MS Word templates. They will keep you from standing out from the 900 other resumes in the pile.

Avoid cliches in your resume descriptions such as; "team player, "highly motivated," "hard worker" etc. These waste the resume reader's time. (Who would not claim to be a "hard worker?")

John Smith Example

Here is the document John Smith (not his real name) - fresh out of the armed services - had when he contacted me and asked for my help with his resume.

Before example

John's resume was too long, it included way too much detail and it focused on his past without much of an idea about what he wanted to do in the future. The format was not professional looking and it was hard to read. So, how did I repair it?

His mechanic skills are logically transferable into jobs in public and private industry. I began to filter out all the extra and unnecessary information, leaving in just those items that might appeal to his next employer; perhaps an auto dealer. I added an objective that hopefully will match a new job lead.

After example. My resume for John runs over into two pages. Next, I will cut down on the font to 11 point and should be able to fit John's resume onto one page.

Always include a Cover Letter

This is an important part of your marketing effort. Cover Letters

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