Resumes, and cover letters, are essential for the application process. There are some jobs that do not require resumes; filling out an application is suitable. Sometimes it is not easy to determine which jobs do not require a resume. Therefore, its a good idea to have resumes prepared.

A good resume presents your skills. It shows an employer, in a glance, why hiring you would benefit his/her company. With that in mind, its very important to put time and effort into your resume. If you are uncertain how to write it, find someone who knows how. Use a word processor with spell check. Have someone proof read it for errors spell check can't catch. Avoid spelling errors, omissions and lies. All can come back to haunt you.

It is also important to compose a resume for each type of job you are looking at. A resume for manufacturing is different from an administration. Also be careful with gender. If someone else is writing, and or, setting up the lay-out, make sure its gender-appropriate. (For example, when writing an administrative resume for myself, a woman, I would use creative formatting: bold, italics, and underlining. Whereas a resume for a man, particularly one seeking an industrial, or manufacturing, position would be very different.)

Please remember that resumes should be to the point. One page is good for most resumes. For individuals with significant education, training and/or experience, this is not possible. Tailor the resume to suit your needs.

Resume Structure: This page has information on how to structure a resume.

Vocabulary
Dictionary.com: Please remember to avoid using words you are not comfortable using. Having a word on your resume you cannot remember the definition of could be embarrassing.
Resume Keywords: Wonderful words to add style, sophistication and/or professionalism. If you are uncertain what a word means, please check out the on-line dictionary. Make sure you do not have words on your resume you do not understand.

Examples
Example Cover Letters
Admin: While I do like the general lay-out of this example, I disagree with using numbers instead of words. 32 should be thirty-two. Additionally, resume points should start with a past tense action, unless its a job currently being performed. "Assisted the department manager with..."
Military: (Example shown for Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines is actually a resume for the Army National Guard. I didn't write it.) Please remember that resumes for civilian jobs need to be written for civilians. If you are unsure if a civilian will understand your resume, please find one to test it on.
Nurse: This example is good for Nursing, and other occupations. It shows a resume where the education is at the top and followed by certifications. This is a lay-out for individuals who education is the most recent. Or there is a need to present education over experience.

At one time, someone got the idea that placing personal information on a resume is a good idea. Obviously, there is personal information on a resume. I am talking a personal description. Unless applying for a job involving your looks, a resume should not include a description, demographics or a photograph. Depending on the position, I recommend not including memberships/volunteer experience with organizations that indicate gender, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation. (If it is your only experience, it needs to be included.)