Jobs, now more than ever, are hard to obtain and with hundreds of people applying for each advertised position, more care and planning must be taken to fulfill each requirement of the job application process. Creating an effective resume is by far the most important step as it largely determines whether or not you get called for an interview.

Networking, though vital, is not the only key ingredient in securing a job. Companies of all sizes have HR policies that require jobs to be advertised and a process to be followed to ensure that a larger response is received for any job opening. Opportunities are published in newspapers and posted on online job sites requesting candidates submit their resumes to be considered for the position.

Hundreds, if not thousands of applicants send in their resumes in response to advertised positions. The more general posts receive far greater responses as many more people qualify to meet the job criteria and requirements. Reviewing such quantities of resumes is an enormous task and often has a deadline associated with it. To judge the suitability of each of the candidates in a limited amount of time means that resumes receive less than a minute of the employer's time before they are either trashed or accepted for a second review. This might not be the most thorough way of selecting candidates but it is practical and more than often efficient.

To be considered as a serious candidate, make sure your resume is presentable and professional. Use a commonly used font and a layout that permits the employer to scan your details easily. Use short bullet form sentences of no more than two lines while writing about your experience and work history. Use good quality paper if you're submitting a printed resume and use a matching envelope. Make sure you check for grammatical, punctuation and spelling mistakes.

Be prepared to spend several hours a day on the skills and accomplishments part of your resume. Remember that companies are looking for individuals that can add value to their business and are not bothered about unrelated details in your past life. To match your resume to the requirements of the advertised job, make sure you know exactly what your duties will be. Make sure to highlight only the important elements of your achievements that convey your suitability for the vacant position. For a job in IT, mention your project management and computer related knowledge versus a job in marketing where you would focus on your creative and interpersonal abilities.

The resume is your first opportunity to meet with the employer, where you do the talking and the employer listens. There are no opportunities to clear misunderstandings and answer questions. If you make the effort to associate your experiences with the demands of the job, there's no reason why you should need to. Instead, with a carefully formulated resume you can expect an interview call and hopefully an offer letter in the near future.