By Lori Norris

While a resume was once only needed by upper management and executives, today almost everyone needs a resume to job hunt effectively. There have been drastic changes to how we apply for jobs. However, no matter how many online applications you fill out, there will always be a need for a paper resume.

The resume has only one purpose . . . to get interviews. A good resume can not get you a job, but a bad resume or no resume will prevent you from even getting the opportunity to interview. A resume is a marketing tool, plain and simple. Your resume speaks for you when you are not there to talk yourself.

A resume is an investment, whether in the time it takes you to prepare it yourself or the money it may cost if you decide to hire a professional to write it with you. However, a well-written resume is an investment in your future. Think about the salary you are costing yourself from missed opportunities and failing to convince employers to call you for an interview. A good resume will get you more calls, more interviews and therefore a job much more quickly. A great resume can also convince an employer you are worth more salary!

Here are some key components that make an effective resume:

YOUR RESUME MUST SELL AN EMPLOYER YOUR BENEFITS Don't be fooled, looking for a job is not much different than the sales process. You must think of yourself as a salesperson and the product you are selling is YOU! Any good salesperson will tell you that you have to sell a customer on the benefits they will receive from the product. Your customer, the prospective employer, wants to know how you will return the investment they will make in you as an employee. Your resume must communicate the following message: "If you buy this product (hire me), you will receive the following benefits ..." In other words, don't just tell them you are organized; tell them you have the ability to bring order to any chaotic situation that will increase the efficiency of the office. Don't just tell them you are dependable, let them know that you have a spotless record of attendance and you are never late.

YOUR RESUME MUST BE ERROR FREE One typo, one misused word or one misspelled word could be the reason that hiring managers are not calling you. Proofread, proofread and proofread your resume again. Don't rely on your computer's spellchecker to catch your errors. Spellcheckers only find misspelled words; they don't look for misused words. Attention to detail in your resume is imperative. If your resume is sloppy and lacks attention to detail, the hiring manager will assume you don't pay attention to details in your work.

YOUR RESUME MUST BE PERSONALIZED Your resume must stand out from the crowd. Cookie cutter resumes or template resumes will not achieve this goal. A good resume entices the hiring manager to call you for an interview. A great resume entices the hiring manager to read every word of the resume, stop what they are doing and pick up the phone to call you. Anyone can write a generic resume. What will get your phone ringing for interviews is a resume that tells the hiring manager why YOU will be a valuable asset to their organization.