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This is 2013 and people are busier than ever. This busy set includes hiring managers. So if you want a job anytime soon, you have to master the art of catching and holding the attention of hiring managers. That means your resume has to do its job.

What is the job of the resume? Simple. The resume is supposed to get the recruiter to ask for more from you. The recruiter should read your resume and call you for an interview. In other words, the only goal of the resume is to sell your skills, qualifications and experience to the employer.

With that in mind, here are five steps that you can take to improve your resume.

Target Your Resume

You should never send the same resume to different employers. If you are sending the resume in response to an ad, you should ensure you read the ad so you know the competencies needed for the job. Then you can put these competencies in a section of your resume, preferably at the beginning, just after your name, address and phone number.Use critical keywords throughout your resume that would fit in with the particular employer that you are aiming at.

This means you would prepare different resumes for different employers and include information that would interest the employer and show that you are capable of doing the work. For example, you can include information that shows your ability to meet new people and entrepreneurial flair when applying to a sales job. Basically, you should pattern your resume to the job you are applying for.

Arrange Your Resume Properly

You should not use any haphazard arrangement in your resume. You must arrange the various sections in your resume in a way that would catch the attention of the recruiter. It is not compulsory to start with your educational qualifications. If your employment history is more impressive than your education, then you should start with that.

The key thing is to arrange the resume in a sequence that would help you get the recruiter’s attention.

Blow Your Trumpet (Sensibly, though)

You should highlight your accomplishments. When describing your employment history, ensure that the employer knows what you have accomplished at that particular job. Did you help increase sales? By how much? Did you boost team morale? Did you receive commendations? Did you help resolve customer complaints? Make sure your accomplishments are highlighted. Be concise and don’t go overboard. Only state accomplishments that you actually achieved.

Format Properly

Formatting is critical when writing your resume. The better formatted resume would be read. That means you should make your resume easy on the eye. More white space. Bigger font. Concise words.

Even if you choose not to write your resume yourself, you can use the above as a checklist to see if your resume is likely to get read.