Your resume stands between you and an opportunity of a lifetime. Here are 5 tips that will help your resume get noticed.

1. Type of Resume

There are three types of resumes: chronological, functional, or a combination of the two. Chronological focuses primarily on your work history while the function focuses on relevant experience. Decide which one fits best for your experience and background and choose that one. You want to make sure that it is a customized resume for each job that you apply for, so you might have a different type of resume for each different company.

2. Font

Picking the right font is crucial for the employer to be able to read. Choosing a font such as Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri will ensure that your resume is easy to read.

3. Contact Information

Your contact information should be listed in the header of your resume. Include your name, address (city and state are fine), professional email address, and phone number. If you are on LinkedIn, include the web address for that as well.

4. Key Words

Key words are critical because most companies use scanning software that looks for words based on the job requirements. The best thing to do is to look up the job description and mimic the responsibilities on your resume. If the description says, “looking for a team player,” then team player should be on your resume.

5. Review Sample Resumes

This is important, especially if you are making a career change. Finding sample resumes that you can review will help you with designing yours. We sometimes need a little help with our word choices, and samples are a good place to start.

Building your resume is not a one-time task. It should be updated each time you change jobs, add more responsibilities to your current position, or receive more education. Your resume is a valuable marketing tool-- be sure that it is provides a clear picture of who you are.