What is a resume?
A resume is a one to two page written summary of your skills, experience and abilities that you believe will make you a good fit for the job you are applying for.
What to include in a resume?
Name, address, telephone number
a clear and relevant job objective
all significant work experience
education and/or training
past accomplishments
military experience (if any)
organizational/professional memberships
What not to include on a resume?
Irrelevant personal information (hobbies, marital status, age, etc.)
any negative information
any handwritten or white-out corrections
There are two basic types of resumes: Chronological & Skills/Functional
Chronological is the easiest & least time-consuming to compose. You list your prior experience in chronological order (most recent first), followed by previous jobs. This generally the most preferred format because it gives employers most of the information they want to know. Generally this one is used when you have the education suited to the job, have a work history that demonstrates career growth, if you are considering a career change, possess related work experience and have an impressive work history.
Skills/Functional is harder to compose but works well if you have gaps in your work history. You would organize your experiences by key skills rather than chronologically, this format is generally used by professionals who have strong skills in one specific area. You would want to use this style if you have a poor work history, have solid training but little paid experience, have had frequent job changes, late little or no related work experience or if you lack the education for the position you're applying to.
Tips
Prepare your resume to target specific opportunities.
If possible research a little bit and target your resume to the job you're applying to.
Don't exceed two pages! Omit all long explanations, this should be a simple and direct read.
Proofread for accuracy, relevance, spelling, grammar and other errors.
Then have someone else proofread it too.
Update your resume frequently so it's ready to go when you are.
Avoid using abbreviations, slang, different verb tenses & contractions.
What is a cover letter?
A cover letter is what introduces you to a potential employer. This should tell the employer why they should hire you.
Basics of a cover letter
Every cover letter should have your address on it, you should also include your email address.
Date your cover letter, let them know when you created it.
Address the cover letter as it shows in the job posting.
Use an appropriate salutation, if you're unsure of the name or gender then you can use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam".
Make sure you properly identify yourself, the position you're applying to, where you heard about the position and why you are interested in it.
After that you will explain why you are qualified for the position.
Include your telephone number and what time of day/week you can best be reached.