I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season, filled with laughter and good friends and family.

Many of you are taking this time off to work on updating your resume. It is a classic new year's resolution. So, I thought I may as well offer you some resume writing tips. First, know that your resume is designed to get you an interview, not to get you a job. What that means is this: give them a taste of what you have to offer, and entice them to call you to get the nitty-gritty detail. Unless you already have a one-page resume, less is usually more.

Second, the most effective resumes start with a little preparation and research. Get as clear as you can on what you want for a new job, before you start writing your resume. Then, go do some research (online is fine for this) to look at jobs that might fit the bill. See what employers are asking for in terms of "required skills and experience." Write those things down. Use that list as you create your resume, to make sure you are hitting on the skills they want to see ... and using the language they need to see to understand your skills.

Third (and I still do not want you writing your resume yet), write down your accomplishments for each job you have had. Make a list of things you did that are great (your proudest career moments). These could be as simple as creating a new process that reduced wasted time.

Now you are ready to start writing your resume! I always prefer a resume that highlights your primary skills at the top (a functional resume), and then briefly outlines your chronological history, with your accomplishments highlighted under each job. Keep your eye on the target job, and speak to what employers are looking for. Do not explain obvious job duties (like "As a waiter, took people's food orders", or "As a sales person, called on clients.") Save your precious space for details that a resume reviewer cannot assume about your job based on the title (As a waiter ... "highest number of personal requests for service by repeat customers" or "Top sales person 2 years in a row," "115% of sales quota in 2008").

I suggest you start creating your resume with bullet points to explain your talents. You can move to sentences later if you like, but start with a clear and concise resume focusing on what you bring to the table. And remember: this is your chance to brag about all the great things you have done. Use numbers (data, metrics) to back up your successes wherever you can. And have fun telling the world how great you are!