With increasing competition in the job market, you need a resume that’s in top shape to set you apart and secure an interview for the position you want. Even if you’re in a job that you like, it never hurts to freshen up your resume. Give your resume a quick “make-over” by following these five tips:

1. Customize your resume for each employer.

A one-size-fits-all resume won’t get you a call for an interview. If you sent one resume to a company about a customer service position and later you see a sales coordinator position you want to apply for, be sure to rework your resume so it reads like your experience fits the requirements of that job. Craft your resume to fit the position you’re applying for and you’ll raise the odds of getting that interview.

2. List your achievements—not simply job tasks.

Potential employers already know which tasks the position requires. Your resume should highlight your achievements while performing those tasks and how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. Ask yourself questions like: How did you perform the job better than others? What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance? Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotions as a result?

3. Highlight skills the employer is seeking.

You may want a particular job, but if you don't have the skills and experience needed, employers will feel like you're wasting their time. Review the job description and highlight the skills the company is looking for with a bulleted list of your related qualifications at the top of the document. If you're short on actual job experience, include a “Skills Summary” section to apply your talents to the type of skills needed for the job.

4. Tailor your objective or leave it out.

An objective is helpful when you're trying to show the relationship between your skills and a particular position, but it isn’t doing you any good when you put something too generic like “Seeking a challenging position suited to my education and skills.” If you're are looking to show your career plans, replace the objective with a short statement stating what you do or your area of expertise. If you have difficulty matching your objective to the job, follow the tip above by using a “Skills Summary” instead and leave out the objective all together.

5. Let verbs do the work.

Even if you’re not a whiz at writing, there is one trick you can use to give your resume more pizzazz. Start out each sentence with a verb. Since you want to convey action, it makes sentence to use short phrases instead of complete sentences. For example: “Conceived campaign for generating qualified leads.” "Created online tool for expediting customer orders.” “Initiated weekly meetings to review performance and objectives.” Remember to use present tense verbs for the position you currently hold and past tense for previous jobs.

Dana Leipold is a professional freelance copywriter who helps individuals and businesses develop concise words to generate more business, get job interviews, and reach business or personal goals. She also publishes monthly writing tips aimed at the most effective ways to use words as powerful tools. Visit www.concisewords.com to subscribe or learn about Concise Words Writing Services. Mention Unlimited Mom and receive a 10% discount on all services.