We offer three ground rules for maximizing the effectiveness of your resumes.

The #1 tip for getting a resume past a screener and into the hands of a hiring manager is to customize the resume for the job you're targeting. We've got some simple tips to help you, along with a worksheet to get you started.

We've collected some of the best resume-writing tips on one page -- along with some sample outlines you can download to get you started.

If a job posting asks for a cover letter as part of the application, you MUST submit a cover letter or your application will be considered incomplete. But don't worry if you're not a great writer -- we've got the top points to remember when composing your cover letter.