One of the main reasons people do not get callbacks after sending out a resume is simply because the resume is unfocused. The resume content does not make it clear you have the skills and experience that qualify you for the specific job opening. A second common reason is the resume is riddled with errors.

A great cover letter is not difficult to create when you understand the employer's perspective. Keeping the letter brief, focused and formatted attractively will get your resume read.

In a competitive job market, it is necessary to go above and beyond standard efforts to find available positions. By reaching out into areas you would not normally seek, you can find new opportunities. Revise your resume to sharpen the focus on the jobs you choose to pursue, and you greatly increase your chances of landing employment.

Your resume should be focused, interesting, attractive and customized. Getting your resume read is a matter of delivering a specific message to a potential employer that clearly says, "I'm different from all the rest!"

New technology and trends allow job seekers to post resumes on their blog. This practice has both positive and negative benefits.

It is important to fill the gaps in employment in a resume cover letter. Ignoring a gap will only make an employer more concerned you have lost skills or are even hiding something you don't want others to know. Briefly and positively addressing the gap in your cover letter takes the mystery out and replaces it with information.

Employment gaps on a resume that indicated lack of employment for several months or more used to get resumes tossed. But with the current recession, there are plenty of people with much longer gaps, and it's not their fault. The key to preventing these gaps from being job killers is to turn the gaps into opportunities.

During a recession, the competition for jobs is intense. When a job is posted, there may be hundreds of applicants. To keep your resume from getting buried in the avalanche, it's crucial you prove your worth to a company's bottom line.