1) Focus on the goal

Always remember that the point of a resume is to get an interview. You don't need to sell anyone on hiring you, you don't need to convince anyone that you're the best at some skill. You need to convince them that you are interesting enough to bring in and talk to. Interviewing has an entirely different set of goals, and is its own set of skills. When writing your resume though, keep your eye on the prize: scoring an interview.

First, you need to make sure that your resume reads well so that someone will pay attention long enough to decide it's worth calling you. Secondly, your resume needs to present something to them that they feel is valuable. It needs to really sell you - maybe even oversell you just a little - to the point that they just have to bring you in and talk with you. Be careful with this, though, as you don't want to set up unrealistic expectations.

2) Don't get distracted

It's really easy when putting your resume together to get caught up in the details and lose sight of what your resume is supposed to be. Your resume does not need to be a complete and accurate history of your employment. There are no penalty points for leaving out companies, jobs, responsibilities or roles. In fact, you'll probably be better served by keeping your resume nice and concise, leaving out any details that don't apply to the job you're applying for.

Also, don't take the opportunity to make a statement, get overly creative, or climb on a soapbox. You may have fun writing it, and you may think that people will enjoy reading it, but reality is that it will probably only be skimmed. People reading your resume are looking for specific information, and they want to get it as quickly and easily as possible. Obscuring that in any way, even if it's clever or witty, probably won't help you achieve your primary goal: see point number one.

3) Consider including a summary section

Building on one of the last ideas, consider using a summary section in your resume to get the meat to the reader as quickly and directly as possible. They will appreciate seeing the details right up front, and you'll appreciate the increased likelihood of getting an interview. Of course, you already know that your resume shouldn't be too long, but even a 2-page resume can be more work to get through than a hiring manager wants to invest. A summary delivers what they really want right away.

Highlight your most relevant skills, again focused primarily on what the job you are applying for requires, in simple, direct statements. Point out how your specific skills and experience work well with the requirements of the position. Pull from across your work experience, listing items in order of relevance rather than chronologically. Bullet points are a good idea because they will help you keep things short and to the point.

Stay tuned for more Resume Writing Tips to come.