Whether you're looking for your first job, looking to change jobs or maybe even change careers, your resume will either help or hurt your chances of reaching your goal.

But how the heck do you get your resume to shine over all the other resumes in the pile?

Experts suggest that you tailor your resume so that it highlights your experience, relative to the position that you seek. Give specific examples of how you made a difference at your company as it relates to matters such as profitability, creativity, morale and resourcefulness.

Stress results, not activity. Your goal is to get the person reading your resume to ask the question, "How did this applicant do that?" It's important that you use words and phrases relating specifically to the field so that your resume will make it through the first step.

At many companies, resume scanning software looks for key words or phrases specific to the nature of the job in that particular industry.

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