Writing a resume is a crucial part of the job hunting process. Your resume is what will get you the opportunity of a job interview. This means your resume has to wow your potential employer and it has to do it in mere seconds. So how does your resume accomplish this task?

While many people are turned off by the idea if selling, everyone sells and they do it all the time, starting when we are kids and "selling" our parents on getting that new toy, going to that restaurant, whatever it may be.

And our resume sells us. It's designed to communicate who YOU are and when it does a good job you end up with a job interview. Your resume is your salesperson in writing.

So you need to get rid of any negative thoughts you may have about selling. No one will sell your ability to performa job better, or more passionately, than you will.

Your resume is more than your work history. It needs to grab the reader write away and communicate loud and clear that you have the credentials and skills needed to be a complete success in your new job or career.

Your resume will contain the following:

Your contact information, i.e. name, address, phone, email address, website address.

A defined job objective.

A work history.

Educational history.

Affiliations.

References.

When writing your resume, you need to communicate with powerful words that will impress. And I do mean impress, not lie. If you lie on your resume, it will come back to haunt you.

There are two key elements involved in a great resume. You need powerful and assertive statements about your character, talents and accomplishments.

In addition, the resume needs to convey that you know what you are talking about, that you are capable of excelling in the job being offered.

I'm sure you've seen plenty of junk mail, correct? And what is that mail designed to do? It's designed to sell you on something. Your resume is designed to do the same thing. A great sales letter will compel the reader to take action, usually to purchase a product. Your resume is designed to compel the reader to take action as well, which is to call you and schedule a job interview.

Remember, your resume is designed to sell you as the person most qualified for the job. Don't be shy about making that fact very clear. If you don't, you'll be waiting for the phone to ring and it never will.