Trust me, you’re better off with bad breath and body odor than a bad resume on a new job hunt. Really. As if this battered economy weren’t doing you enough favors. You need to know how to write a resume and how to do so effectively. And that means a lot more than just listing all of your past jobs.

The key to the treasure chest of success lies in carefully mapping the progression of your career with a substantive and visually attractive presentation that will capture the interest of employers. The key also lies in repositioning that career presentation to illustrate position-specific accomplishments that change to match each new direction on your career compass. You simply cannot arrive at a new destination unless you change course. And that equals a change in your resume.

Here are a few ways to spruce things up and avoid sinking your ship:

1) Eliminate worn out lists of responsibilities and tired job descriptions. Responsibility is a noble trait and we should all strive to attain ever increasing levels of it. But let’s inject a brief reality check. Just because you were responsible for something doesn’t necessarily mean that you were any good at it. Focus on achievements instead.

2) Should they even hire you in the first place? Don’t know? They may not know either. In fact, you could be buying a one-way ticket to the rubbish heap by having an unclear purpose. Be sure to clarify your objectives and desired career goals. Your target position and career focus should be laser sharp and crystal clear. Make certain that it matches what the recruiter is searching for and use facts to support that match. He shouldn’t have to guess why you’re qualified.

3) Keep it clean. Nothing screams “Toss me!” like an ugly, jumbled mess of a resume. White space is your friend. A thick, confusing text-filled resume is all you need to be forgotten in a hurry. Meaningful and relevant experience is definitely essential for quantifying your candidacy and pushing your resume to the front of the pack, but leave out the 2nd grade gig at the lemonade stand. There are other, more beneficial ways to establish the depth of your business acumen.

Confused about just how to write a powerful, interest-generating resume? Utlizing the services of a knowledgeable and intuitive resume writer is a sure way to get a resume with impact. When you consider that only 2% of resumes have what it takes to get the offer, a professional resume writer will be worth the investment to help you reach new horizons in your career.