Bonell Ryan

An effective resume has a number of aspects:
— Visual
— Chronology and Geography
— Content

Many resumes, while attempting to look "different," end up frustrating the reader. Therefore, keep the format simple and uncluttered.
With most resumes being emailed today, formatting seems less important as formatting issues are somewhat expected - however, bold headings, dates and titles can effectively separate sections within your resume and will create visual interest.
Justified margins (both right and left) really add to the appearance of a resume.
Functional resumes are more difficult to assess and candidates are often requested to create a chronological resume.
Try to limit the length of your resume to two pages, or at a maximum, three pages. Remember, a short, clean and "to the point" resume has a better chance of being read all the way through (see template).

Clearly indicate in reverse chronological order (begin with most recent or current position) each organization at which you’ve been employed, together with each position title you have held.
Each position should have corresponding dates. If you’ve held several positions at one organization, include the dates for each position (when you started and finished), together with the overall dates at that company.
Indicate the city and state (and country, for international roles) for each position held.

Avoid use of personal pronouns (e.g, "I was responsible for..." or "John Smith was responsible for...") simply use active verbs and their objects (e.g. "Responsible for...", etc.).
Be clear and concise in describing the main responsibilities of each position held. Limit your description to three lines.
Whenever possible, customize your resume to suit the specific position for which you are applying.
Don't state an "Objective" unless it is highly compelling. Rather, focus on specific companies and positions — and your responsibilities and accomplishments at each.
For each position held, highlight your major accomplishments in bullet point format. Use words that express "action" — directed, negotiated, improved, generated, launched — and focus on the results achieved, i.e., "Increased customer retention by 10%."
A sales executive should indicate targets and sales results in dollar amounts.
Give less detail of responsibilities and accomplishments from the early part of your career, focusing mainly on the most recent ten years.
Do not put any false or exaggerated information on your resume. More and more often, companies are requesting that search firms confirm the accuracy of resumes.
Include professional memberships, associations, awards and language skills.
Do not include personal information (i.e., "married with children," "loves to play soccer").