The quality of your resume can dictate whether a prospective employer decides to move forward with you to the next stage of the hiring process or discard your application immediately. You only have a few seconds to make a strong impression with a piece of paper so you need to make sure your resume is well-written and organized in a way that gets the employer’s attention — and makes a lasting impression.

Here’s a closer look at what you need to have on your resume to land the job of your dreams:

Your Career Objective

You want to convey your career goals and ambitions effectively right off the bat. This section of your resume doesn’t need to be longer than three or four concise sentences and should include short-term and long-term goals. Your prospective employer needs a clear idea of what you expect to achieve during your working years and how this job is the ideal fit on your career timeline.

List of Accomplishments

Making sure you highlight all of your accomplishments on your resume is critical for helping you stand apart from other candidates. You want to make sure you are sharing important information about how you made a difference in organizations you worked for or how you helped clients above and beyond the call of duty. Make sure to include any specific awards and achievements, either in a bulleted list or a regular list with a short description if you have enough space. You can use this as a talking point during the interview.

Clean Layout and Edited Document

Don’t underestimate the value of a clean layout and a document that has been proofread and edited for spelling and grammar errors. You want to make a great first impression and even minor flaws can appear unprofessional. Take the time to edit the document or have a professional writer or editor do the editing and proofreading for you. This can give you that extra boost of confidence that you are presenting yourself in the best possible light.

Work with a Top HR Recruiter in Chicago

If you need resume advice or help with your job search, consider working with an award winning HR staffing agency in Chicago. Arlington Resources can help you find the ideal human resources job and assist with your career planning efforts so you land the job of your dreams.