In today’s job searching market it is imperative that your resume stand out above others. You want to influence the person reading it. This article is going to address how you can do this with the style of your resume. First impression is usually the factor that gets you an interview.

It is no longer necessary to start your resume with an objective opening. Your cover letter is your objective. If you are not using a cover letter and are handing out a resume then you should use a short opening objective at the beginning of your resume. Keep it short and one to two lines.

Always put your name, address, email and phone number at the top of your resume and your name and page number on each page following. You want your resume to be as few pages as possible. The following information should be used as a guide for creating a professional resume.

Let’s begin by forming a listing of how your resume should appear when it is completed:

*Cover letter or a professional objective
*Qualifications profile
*Education
*Work experience

Professional references should only be added on a separate sheet of paper at the end of your resume when requested by the job posting. Give the hiring party a reason to give you an interview by not sending references unless requested. Personal references should only be given at the job interview.

How your resume appears to the prospective employer is the deciding factor in getting an interview. Opening your resume with a qualifications profile will show professionalism and will list your skills for the job. Always list your computer skills and training at the end of your profile.

Your education should be listed next starting with college degrees and followed by certificates and training hours. It is not necessary to list high school information on a resume if you have college credits. Employers are aware that you must have completed high school to have received college credits. If you do not have any college credits then list your graduation information from schools that you attended.

Work experience will be the last thing listed on your resume. Always list your most recent job and work in reverse until all previous employment is listed. You will need to make sure that dates are entered for your previous jobs. Always fill in the gaps between jobs and try not to leave any years blank. Fill in a year with educational training or volunteering if you can. Long gaps of years can harm your chances for hire.

Have some one review your resume when you are done to see how they think it looks. A friend or family member can do this. Having a critic can give you ideas for a better resume and can enlighten you to something that you may have forgotten to put on your resume.

Remember, resumes need to be one or two pages long and a third page for professional references when requested. How your resume reads reflects how you communicate to others and shows the prospective employer your writing skills. Always spell check your work and the punctuation for an ideal impression.