Most professionals would love to land their dream job but when it comes to writing a resume that would qualify them to make the jump; they end up stuck with what to say and how to say it. Remember that your resume is the first impression you will make on your prospective employer. This could be the one shot you have to land the job of your dreams. An unprofessional resume may dash those hopes despite the fact that you may be the most qualified candidate for the job.

One important resume writing tip is to never put down anything negative about past employment experiences. This not only goes during the resume writing process, but also during your interview. Everyone has negative experiences during employment and, we may as well face it, if our current position was a paradise, chances are we would not be looking for a new job. Leave the negativity out of both your resume and your interview. This is perhaps the most important resume writing tip you can learn.

Do not put anything about salary or wages in your resume. This is highly unprofessional and an important resume writing tip. Salary is often discussed during the interview process and is never acceptable to be presented on a resume. Past salary is also included. If you fill out a job application, you will often be asked your salary that you earned on previous jobs, but a resume is different than a job application. It is a professional introduction to a prospective employer. It is a faux pas to put a salary requirement on a resume and you should not be the first person to bring up salary during the interview process. Allow the employer to bring the matter up.

Another important resume writing tip is to not make your resume to flamboyant. There are many different templates out there for creating resumes and many different types of colored paper. While printing your resume on pink paper may certainly make it stand out among the others, it will also make your prospective employer think that you are unprofessional. Use traditional fonts and classic designs when printing your resume. If you are applying for a job in a creative field, you can get a bit creative with your resume, but not too much so. Remember, there is plenty of time to express your creativity after you have attained the job.

While you want to be certain that you list all of your skills and abilities on your resume, be careful not to embellish. Saying that you know certain computer programs when you have no idea about how to use Excel is not a good way to get a job. One very important resume writing tip is not to embellish your skills or accomplishments on your resume. This includes your grade point average or college degrees. It is relatively easy for an employer to check these things and it can prove embarrassing to be found out to be a liar. Also, if you get the job and do not know how to do the work, you may end up getting fired for being incompetent. This will not only be humiliating, but may destroy some chances of getting a job in the future as you will be hesitant to use the employer who fired you as a reference.

The last important resume writing tip is to be certain to include your name, address, phone number and e-mail address on your resume as well as your employment objective. Employers get hundreds of responses to ads all of the time and many people feel that if they put certain information in their cover letter, they do not have to reiterate on their resume. Oftentimes, the resume and cover letter are separated. Be sure to include all of your personal contact information as well as the job for which you are applying on your resume.

Enter the wonderful world of job fairs. Walk in and you’ll see a vista of opportunities light up before your eyes, options even within professions. You can talk to people from various companies, find recruiters who will tell you what they are looking for, compare different salary structures and perquisites and have the opportunity to see what’s on offer. Whether you are graduating from college, returning to the work force, or contemplating a career change, career fairs have lots to offer a job seeker. Following a few basic guidelines can help you make the most of the experience and maximize some great networking opportunities.

Dress as you would for a job interview. The interactions you have with prospective employers at a job fair are likely to be brief, and first impressions count. Put your best foot forward with proper attire, a smile, and a confident hand shake. Also remember your own promotional materials, and a professional looking case to hold them as well as the information you collect. Come prepared. Bring copies of your up-to-date resume, and be ready to talk about yourself. What kind of positions are you interested in? How does your previous experience relate? Decide ahead of time what skills you are going to promote, and have the evidence to back them up.

Do your homework. Spend some time browsing company websites ahead of time to get a better feel for their organizations, what they have to offer, and what they are looking for. Having a good basic understanding of a company will enable you to get right to the point when you have the opportunity to ask questions in person. This will allow you to ask more useful questions, as well as make a better impression than a person who has not prepared ahead.

Figure out your target. When you arrive at the job fair, take a moment to figure out where your target employers are located and have a plan for organizing your time. Too much aimless wandering will decrease your energy and make it difficult to stay focused. Network, network and network. Take advantage of opportunities to network not just with potential employers, but with other job seekers. They may be able to offer valuable information that could save you time, or open you up to possibilities you hadn’t already considered.

Follow up. Once you have met with an employer, get their contact information, and take some notes to remind you of points you want to follow up on, additional questions you may have thought of, and any specific recommended action. Follow up with a thank you note or email to express your appreciation and solidify your good impression. Remember, even if you do not receive a job offer immediately following your attendance at a job fair, networking is a huge and very valuable aspect of any job hunt. Take business cards to exchange with others in the interest of helping one another and broadening your contact list.