In "Rockin' Resumes, Part I," we talked about pre-resume planning: compiling a list of your past jobs and job-releated activities and writing down as many achievements and accolades as you could think of. You know how to avoid common mistakes, and you're feeling pretty darn good about all of your accomplishments. Now it's time to put that information to work.

Step 3: Customize to maximize results

Now that you've got all of the pieces of your resume together, it's time to decide how you want to present them. The two basic formats are chronological, which is pretty self-explanatory, and functional, which focuses more on what you've done and the skills you possess rather than where you did what and for how long.

If you're just starting out and don't have a long work history, a functional resume is probably where you want to be. If, on the other hand, you have some solid professional experience under your belt, chronological might be best for highlighting your accomplishments and showing a clear progression of your strengths.

Regardless of which format you decide to use, you will need to create a basic resume that includes - you guessed it - the basic info that every employer will want to see: your contact information, your educational background, a note that references are available on request, and any professional experience that you feel is relevant to any job you may apply for. Once you have these elements in place, it's time to pick and choose the specific experiences and skills you bring to the table to really wow a potential boss. This is where your bank of accolades and accomplishments comes in handy.

Pitfall 3: Don't send the same resume to everyone

Each job you apply to is different, and each requires a slightly different approach. Sure, you could create a standard resume that gives an overview of who you are and what you can do, but general resumes generally end up in the circular file with the rest of the general resumes. Employers want to see why you are the absolutely perfect person for the job, and tailoring your resume to show them what they want to see is key to getting an interview.

Step 4: Personality plus

Now that you've got a basic resume and some tailored resumes put together for your various applications, it's time for the fun stuff. This is when you get to pick out the fancy-schmancy paper and envelopes and decide on a font and layout for your resume. There are definitely some standards to follow when it comes to putting your resume on paper: use a simple font face in a readable size, use a laser printer for higher quality (you can e-mail your resume to Kinko's and they'll print it out and have it waiting for you!), and always, always, ALWAYS proofread your resume before you print it, and again before you send it out.

You want your resume to be highly readable, so think about how you can us margins, bullets, and bold and italics to break up the space and present your information. Your resume should stand out not only for what's in it, but also for how it looks. Don't be afraid to be a little creative within the traditional conventions of a resume. And if you have a little extra space, go ahead and include some personal information such as organizations you belong to, citations of your published writing, awards you've won, etc. Remember, the goal is to highlight your strengths, not to provide a job description for every position you've held in the last 5 years.

Pitfall 4: Don't over-personalize

Here's a great example of over-personalizing: If you're applying for a job that requires a lot of writing, your blog may be a great way to introduce your boss-to-be to your writing skills - a perfect personal addition to your resume - but only if you wouldn't be embarrassed for your mom, your boyfriend's grandma, and your priest to read it. Political essays, fiction and nonfiction writing can work in your favor. However, if you wax poetic about your nights on the town as a woman of intrigue and mystery (and booze and boys...), it's best to keep your personal stuff personal.

Writing your resume can be a lot of fun if you give yourself the opportunity to enjoy it. Your resume should be a reflection of your personality as well as a reflection of your accomplishments, so take the time to put your spin on it and make sure it gives the impression you want - and that interview will be right around the corner.

* This article originally appeared in desire Los Angeles in July 2005.