Think you have the perfect resume, but not receiving the kind of response you had hoped for? A Resume is more than simply a listing of your recent job experiences and skills; it is essentially a sales piece on your most important possession: You. Because most employers only view your resume for an average of 5-15 seconds, it is crucial to have only the most important and relevant information there which relates to the job you are looking for. The tips below can help you refresh your resume know-how, as well as perfect it to garner more responses.

• First impressions count! Make sure to include your professional designations after your name.
• When stating your objective or creating a synopsis, avoid personal pronouns, such as I, me and my.
• List your employment history in reverse chronological order (most recent job first).
• Make your resume more interesting! For each company listed in your employment history, create a summary of this company including the size of the company, the industry and a description of the product or service they offered.
• Include all relevant software programs used.
• Treat your resume like a webpage; you want to attract as many “hits’ to it as possible. Be mindful to include key words that employers are likely looking for. For example: Public Company, SOX, macros, US GAAP, SAP and Oracle are just a few. When doing this exercise try to think of what your key skills are and be sure to list them.
• Avoid elaborate graphics, images and fancy fonts as they may be difficult to read to ensure it converts properly on your reader’s system.
• Is the resume easy to read? Avoid clutter, as this tends to make reading difficult and therefore ineffective.
• Stick to the same font type and size throughout the resume, and keep spacing consistent.
• Make sure to include bullets, bolding and lines where needed to organize your resume and guide the reader’s eyes.
• Place your career objective toward the top of the resume in a headline.
• Make sure to list any and all accomplishments by using numbers, percentages, dollar amounts and other concrete measures of success.
• Proofread! No employer will be impressed by spelling mistakes, misused words or poor grammar. After you have proofread your resume, have someone else read it as well to ensure any mistakes have been corrected.
• It is not necessary to include references on your resume, however, be prepared to supply them upon request. Always ask if individuals are willing to serve as a reference before you give their name to a potential employer.

Finding a suitable position can be a frustrating and time-consuming, but if you take proactive measures, such as perfecting your resume with the tips listed, you will be one step closer to landing that perfect position! Remember, a resume is your only chance for a first impression, so take extra care to polish this ever-important document.