A good resume is very important. I initally did my own resume utilizing a standard boilerplate template and was quite pleased with it myself. After several months without finding a job and only a couple of interviews I came to the realization that my resume wasn't doing what I wanted it to do. I had the local employment office do one for me that landed me an interview, but had mistakes on it that totally blew the interview for me. Not to mention how embarrassing that lesson was.
So, I went back to square one with my original resume and did a lot of research on the subject. The turning point for me was when I decided to go against the "Pros" advice and go with a two page resume; a cover page and then the resume itself. Both pages had the same format and again, against the advice of others, I had a small photo of myself on both pages in the upper left hand corner. On the cover page I stated the position that I was applying for, a brief one paragraph work summary highlighting my strengths. Then another brief paragraph stating how I would be an asset to the company. And finally salary/wage requirements and references. I customized each resume to fit the position that I was applying for. I immediately started to get interviews and had landed a job within a couple of weeks.
I guess what I'm trying to convey is that if you don't know what you are doing, get someone that does to do it for you, but be sure to proofread it carefully before submitting for a position. Customize your resume to fit the position that you're applying for. If you're not getting results, experiment and try something different. Find out what works for you geared to the type of employment you're looking for. I hope this helps someone as much as it did me.
Happy job hunting!
