EVERYONE talks about writing a winning resume but does that mean that there’s one and only one sure fire format that works?

No. Job seekers have many options – just Google “resume sample” and you’ll see what we mean – and it’s a matter of coming up with the right resume for your industry or line of work.

A resume is like a sneak peek of what you have to offer a potential employer and it’s to help you secure an interview. This is why resumes should be concise and clearly written.

Whatever “selling” you’d like to do will have to wait – you’ll get the opportunity to sell yourself during the interview.

Your resume should generate enough interest to catch the potential employer's attention based on your academic background and skills which should match their specific job requirements. It should stimulate specific job-related questions and serve as a guide during the interview process.

It should present your job objective, career history (if any) and qualifications supported by any relevant job experience, personal accomplishment, education, and other important supportive information displaying your competencies and potential abilities.

Boost your resume
When you send in your resume, make sure that it is accompanied by a cover letter. This is your chance to personalise your resume and target your skills to that specific employer.

While it may be much easier and common for graduates to write generic or blanket cover letters than one which specifically targets each position you apply for, you stand to lose out if you don’t invest the time in writing a cover letter. In fact, you might not even get the interview despite having all the qualifications.

Employers typically won’t even consider a candidate who does not come across as qualified at first glance. Job seekers often spend countless hours developing their resumes and then treat their cover letters as an afterthought.

This could be a critical mistake when the cover letter can help get your resume noticed. First impressions do count and your cover letter needs to make a good one to help you make it to the next round.

Here a few tips on how to write a powerful resume and attractive cover letter.

Plan your resume
Take the time to plan your resume by determining which points most strongly support your job search objective. Put those strong points first where they are more likely to be read.

Objective
Establish your job search objective before writing the resume and structure the content around that objective.

Writing style
Your writing style should be clear and concise. The objective is to generate enough interest for the potential employer to shortlist you for the interview.

Error-free resume
Read, edit and re-read your resume to make sure it’s well written, clear and typo-free. Use the spell and grammar checker but be careful, these are sometimes not very accurate.

Relevant
Tailor your resume to the type of position and company that you’re applying for. Research the position and company and pay attention to the job requirements. Highlight your qualifications, competencies and abilities as they reflect the hiring company’s needs.

Format
Choose a common font like Arial, Helvetica or Times New Roman. Your font size should not be smaller than a 10-point. Limit the length of your resume to 1 to 2 pages. In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs.

Use buzzwords
If there are certain terms that show your understanding in a particular field, you may use them in your resume. Don’t add something for the sake of sounding smart – you might have a tough time explaining yourself if you get an interview.

Let others provide feedback
Ask someone to review your resume and encourage them to ask questions. Their questions can help you to discover items you have inadvertently left out or identify items that may be confusing to the reader.

The essentials of writing a cover letter
Do's Do Name the person you address in the letter Do Write cover letters that are unique and specific      to you. Do tailor to the requirements of the job. Do keep your letter brief and preferably under a      full page. Each paragraph should have      no more than one to three sentences. Do tell the employer how you can meet his or her      needs and how you can contribute to the      company. Do distinguish your cover letter from those of other      job-seekers by quantifying and giving examples      that amplify and prove the claims you make in      your letter. Do try to answer the question your employer will be      asking while reading your letter: "Why should i      hire this person?" Do use simple language and uncomplicated      sentence structure. Do use action verbs such as design, construct etc.		Don't's Don't ever send your resume without cover letter. Don't writing a boring instruction. Use the first          paragraph to grab the employer's attention          and give the employer the reason you are          qualified for the position.State the obvious          such as “Enclosed please find my resume”          or “As you can see on my resume enclosed          herewith”. Employers can see for themselves          that your resume is enclosed. Don't send a cover letter that with typos,           misspellings, incorrect grammer or           punctuation. It speaks volumes if you’re           sloppy about things like that. Don't repeat your resume. Use your cover letter to          highlight the aspects of your resume that are          relevant to ypur position.