If you are looking for a job, first of all create a winning resume. It is a professional advertisement about yourself that translates what you have done in the past into what you can do for the new employer.

For many people, writing an effective resume is one of the most difficult aspects of job hunting. Keep in mind that busy recruiters spend as little as 10 seconds deciding whether to read a resume from top to bottom, so if they don’t get interested in the first 3 seconds, your resume goes straight to the garbage can. Everything presented in your resume should captivate the reader while answering the question, "Why should the employer want to interview you?". A good resume should present a brief portrait of your past experience. A winning resume grabs the reader’s attention and increases your chances of being called in for an interview.

Think of your resume as a 30-second personal commercial.

Great resumes allure hiring managers, gripping them with the following components:

– Decide what type of job you’ll be applying for, then write it at the top of a piece of paper. For instance "A marketing management position with an aggressive international corporation" is much better than "A position that utilizes my education and experience to mutual benefit."

– Write a short summary of your qualifications, strengths, and skills.

But don’t present a list of every job you’ ve held — you can bore them to death. Just highlight your past 10 years of work experience, then summarize any previous positions.

– Make a short summary of your work experience. Starting with your present position and working backwards in time, include the name and location of employer, the years you worked there and your title.

Be clear and accurate. An inflated claim of your past responsibilities is guaranteed

to come back to haunt you in an interview, so be honest when describing your past roles in employment. Sell the experience and skills you have. Emphasize roles that reveal your values, skills, leadership, etc., even if they were at a minimal-level job.

Write your objective statement, list any education or training you’ve received that might relate and shows that you care about life-long learning and self-development and cite any relevant courses you’ve taken since completing your formal education.

Think about anything else that might qualify you for your job objective and place it at the bottom of your resume. This includes licenses, certifications, affiliations and even personal interests.

– Do not forget to tell about your computer skills and professional affiliations.

Your written profile should look attractive, as well. Make it easy to read, pleasant on the eyes and not more than two typed pages.

– Format.

You’re now done with the hardest part of creating a resume. The only thing left is to format your information in a style that reflects your personality. Before you start, you should feel comfortable with your word processing software. If you aren’t, call a friend or shop around for an experienced resume designer.

Once you have a winning resume in hand, start a personal marketing campaign. The traditional method of answering ads in daily and weekly newspaper and special interest publication is a good start.

Choose the company in which you would prefer to work , call them and ask for the name of the hiring manager, then send a resume and persuasive cover letter.

If you approach your job search as you would a job, you’ll reap the rewards.