A resume is a document that showcases a potential worker's strength and skills. Resume writing has become an industry unto itself, but some basic principles still hold. Job searchers must include the same information and organize the document the same way.

Resume Organization

Resumes are broken down into distinct sections. Each section should contain only relevant, specific information. Looking professional is paramount; employers hate sloppy work and poor grammar. Resumes are organized in many ways, but the traditional format is as follows:

1) Personal Information

Names, phone numbers, addresses, email addresses, fax numbers and websites, if any, all go here. Do not give too much information. For example, employers do not want to know age, marital status, religion or race. More importantly, they do not have the legal right to inquire about these things, so keep them off the resume. Ensure your email address sounds professional. If not, get a free email address with Yahoo or MSN. You do not want to leave a bad impression of you on your resume because you may not get selected for an interview.