10 Steps to A Winning Resume..... .........

By Margie Markarian , a freelance business writer based in Franklin, Massachusetts
What follows are 10 pointers on developing a resume that will open the door to prime job opportunities.
1.	Begin with a summary statement rather than your career objective.
Statements about career objectives tend to limit options, whereas summary statements broaden your options and allow you to be considered for more than one type of position.
Resume GuidelinesThis is especially important if your skillsare widely applicable. Career objectives also have a tendency to peg you as a recent college graduate who's hunting for a permanent job -- not a seasoned professional looking for a contract assignment. A well-written summary statement should concisely describe your skills and experience in three or four sentences.
2.	Present work history in chronological order, and don't bury the dates of employment.
Time and time again, recruiters stress the importance of listing jobs in chronological order, starting with the most recent assignment and working backward. The dates of your employment are critical components of each job history and should be easy to find and written in boldface type.
3.	Explain your projects, but keep the description concise and well-focused.
Titles don't tell all. So, make sure you explain projects and assignments using appropriate facts and figures, bullet points, and action verbs. Wherever possible, focus on measurable outcomes and the results you've produced for the employer.
4.	Play up the names of companies for which you have worked, especially if there are some big names to hype.
Company names have a knack for gaining the undivided attention of resume readers. The bigger the name, the better. That's because most recruiters and employers are familiar with the other contract employers in town, their corporate culture, the type of role contractors fill at those companies, and what skills it takes to successfully complete an assignment there.

5.	Make it scannable.
Use buzzwords but skip the fancy paper. Industry terminology is an important resume detail. Most recruiting companies scan resumes into a database and call them up on a search and retrieve system that relies on key words. If you leave out the buzzwords, your resume may not come up for all the opportunities for which you are qualified.
Rules for
Electronic ResumesIn addition, since scanners can't handle fancy papers, oversized stationery, or scripted type, it's best to stick with lightcolored, bond paper measuring 8.5 by 11 inches, and a very readable typeface (no italics, slants, or scripts) in a 10-point typesize for text and 12- or 14-point bold for headings. Ultimately, unscannable resumes don't get input into databases as expediently as scannable ones. So, you could easily be left out of the running for a job.
6.	Three pages is one page too many.
A two-page resume is perfectly acceptable for a seasoned professional. Three pages is overkill. Critically analyze your resume and get rid of material that isn't relevant anymore or find a new way to summarize a series of jobs.
7.	Be willing to fine-tune for specific clients.
Even the best-written resumes may need to be tailored for certain employers who prefer to see information presented in a consistent manner. At some recruiting firms, it's even standard practice to take information from a candidate's resume and submit it to clients on a customized, formatted "profile" sheet. In any case, be aware that recruiters who are well-attuned to their client's needs, likes and dislikes are very likely to suggest resume changes that will enhance your likelihood of getting the job.
8.	Fill in the gaps.
Resume readers repeatedly stress the importance of presenting work history in chronological order. That means they are going to notice gaps in your employment history and ask about them. It's best to explain a gap of six months or longer as succinctly as possible. Otherwise the gap can be used as an excuse not to call you. Common employment gaps can usually be explained by downsizing, pursuing one's own business, family obligations, independent study, and extended travel.
9.	Don't overinflate your skills, experience, or education.
Certainly most contractors make it a point to include nothing but the truth on their resumes. Nonetheless, the temptation to enhance or embellish your background is very strong. But that usually backfires and can land you in a job assignment for which you are not qualified.

10.	Send your resume to the right person.
Just because scanners have become a fact of business life doesn't mean that individual recruiters aren't scrutinizing the mail everyday for hot, new candidates. Before sending a resume out, always call the firm and get the name and title of the person to whom it should be directed. It's quite possible that there is a recruiter who specializes in placing contractors in your area of expertise who is just waiting for a resume like yours.