Make Your Resume Stand out: Updating Your Resume

It seems obvious what should and what should not go on a resume. Don't talk about how much you like club hopping. Do talk about the presentation you gave that landed three new accounts for a former employer.

However, after having been in the position of sifting through people's resumes and choosing which applicants should be interviewed and which should not, it does not hurt to look over some of the more common mistakes some people make on their resume submissions.

Plus, with the recent wave of layoffs, it does not hurt to always have a current resume on hand.

Cover Letters: Do have a cover letter, especially if an employer has requested one in a job posting. A lot of people either think so highly of themselves that they don't have to follow the rules, or they just are not paying attention to some rather clear-cut instructions. Either way, a cover letter is a good way of further explaining yourself and providing details that may not necessarily fit in the context of the actual resume. At the same time, it's a good opportunity for you to show a little personality.

Fonts, Etc: Your favorite color is turquoise, but there's no need to tell a prospective employer that by handing in a turquoise resume. Unless you are applying in a creative industry where such moves are applauded and sometimes expected, stick to white or subtle deviations from that.

Additionally, fonts should be simple. Avoid cartoon writing and too much bold and italic writing - unless you want to give someone a laugh for the day.

E-mail: Contact information should be professional. If your e-mail address screams your love for kittens, keep that information between you and friends. Provide a prospective employer with something that speaks to your level of professionalism. Nowadays, companies are lining up to provide you with free e-mail accounts. If you don't have something professional, go to Yahoo, Gmail or the myriad of other places, and sign up for a free account. Keep the e-mail simple with your name or initials.

Personality vs. Too Much Info: You always want to get your personality across to a prospective employer so that you stand out from the crowd. However, there is a huge difference between showing personality and giving too much information.

Work Experience: No need to state the obvious, but some people don't get it. On the work experience section, list experience that is relevant to the position you are applying to. Be specific on what your responsibilities were and don't be ambiguous with big words. It doesn't do anything and, in fact, only ends up boring someone.

Also, don't lie. You will get caught.

References: Don't write "Available Upon Request." It's annoying.

Length: One page. More than one page says a lot about yourself - and it's nothing good. Put yourself in an interviewer's position. You probably received dozens of resumes. Would you really have time to read a three-pager on someone? No.

Spell check: You are taught this from day one in elementary school. Yet, some people think they are above the Spell check. Apparently, they also want to remain unemployed.

Negativity: Leaving little clues that you left your last employer as a disgruntled employee sends up warning flags to anyone. It implies that you may be difficult to work with, or worse, you may leave after a very short period of time if not satisfied with your work environment. Regardless of how right you think you are about your last boss being a jerk, your future employer really does not care.

If you left your last job angry and bitter, just remember, that's all in the past. There is no need to carry that negativity to a new employer. It will almost always guarantee no interview for you.

Unemployment: Periods without a job are unavoidable. Almost all of us have that on our resumes. How you deal with them on the resume and in the interview will distinguish the difference between someone who wants to work and someone who doesn't approach work with all that much respect.

Remember to keep your explanations to a minimum, and don't ramble on with some lame reason of why you were out of work for four months.

Remember to be confident in yourself, but be professional at the same time. Good luck with the job hunt.