Have you found yourself out of work, looking for a job in a market where unemployment exceeds 10% in some areas? Are you starting to feel desperate now that you have been out of work for a while? While this may not be any consolation, you are not alone. According to the US government, there are approximately 13 million American people out of work right now. Can you imagine the number or resumes that are received for each new position that opens up on a job board? It must be incredible.

So, where does that leave you in the mass of people looking for a job right now? Is your resume a stand out, a shining star, a diamond in the rough? Are hiring managers calling you constantly to set up interviews or phone screen you? If you are like millions of other Americans, no one is knocking down the door right now to hire you unless you have very specific training that is in high demand.

In order to help you and others like you, I plan to post a series of articles here and around the internet to talk about the crucial components that are mandatory to find a job in today's tight job market and weakening economy. The first and most crucial component is your resume. I will continually return to your resume in almost every article I write because it is what gets you in the door. So, let's take a look at yours.

In today’s tight job market, your resume is the key that opens the door to employer’s who see you as a dynamic and interesting individual that will contribute to a company as a new employee. Does your resume look like your grandfather put it together in about 15 minutes? If you were a hiring manager, would you be impressed with your own resume? Does your resume still have an objective that says something like, “to get an exciting job in my field?” And does your resume still have the last line that says References available upon request?

The importance of the first page
There may have been some truth behind the old resume guidelines that said to create a resume that was only one page long. Recent research indicates that while resumes have expanded to up to four pages or more, 75% of all hiring managers generally make their decision to interview a candidate from the first page of the resume without looking closely at additional pages until later in the hiring process.

What does this mean to you, the all important job-seeker? It means that whether your resume is one page or multiple pages, you had better pack the majority of your vital information into the first page of your resume.

Where to get help
If you are totally befuddled about the resume writing process don’t be discouraged. There are tons of sites on the internet that provide free sample resumes for you to peruse and use as you see fit. You can also purchase software or instructional CD’s to help you build your resume. This type of medium offers you an inexpensive way to create your resume. If you still have some money after being out of work for a while, you can hire a company or an individual on the internet to write your resume for you. However, this service could cost you anywhere from $99 to $500 depending on your level of experience. Finally, you can combine several of the options above and save money at the same time by buying a Resume Builder Tutorial. Here you get a professional resume writer and templates, sample content and sample resume that help you create your own resume packed with all of the pertinent information to get your foot in the door.

No matter what you do, take a minute to look at your resume and ask yourself, is this a Porsche or is it a Buick. If you are tending towards the Buick then you better get some help on creating a new resume. Good Luck and look for more informative articles coming soon and also visit our site for more helpful information.