It’s graduation season, and that means one thing: new job hopefuls searching for their first “real job.” While networking and interviewing skills are important, the first step to almost every position is a resume. In fact, this is the one aspect of job applications that you can totally control. Heading out into the job market this fall myself, I have been paying extra attention to headlines that focus on resumes. A resume shows how you are qualified for a position; it may be the most important one-page document out there. Here are a few tips I have picked up while preparing my own resume for the job hunt.

Keep it simple. As Tony Beshara, author of Unbeatable Résumés (Amacom, 2011), a Dallas-based recruiting and job placement powerhouse and president of Babich & Associates, shared in a recent piece with Forbes: The content should be on a level any high school senior could understand. Language in a resume should be clear, concise, and to the point. 1-2 pages is the absolute maximum length—any extraneous minor details or relevant work experience can be mentioned during an interview.

Eliminate the objective and summary. The use of the “objective” statement at the top of a resume is outdated, says hiring manager Sean McGinnis in his recent post, “20 Resume Tips From a Hiring Manager”. Additionally, forget about the summary as well—stating you’re a driven, hardworking college graduate is not necessary. Save the space for information relevant to the position.

Convert to PDF. In “20 Resume Tips From a Hiring Manager,” Sean McGinnis calls the PDF “a gift to job seekers.” Using a PDF prevents formatting accidents from converting to different versions of Word, which might skew your careful formatting. If you convert to PDF, you can use tables and other formatting tools without running the risk that your creative spin will be ruined by different computer settings.

Upload one document. Instead of separately attaching your cover letter and resume, consider linking them in one document. This will ensure your documents don’t get lost if they become subject to forwarding.

Include achievements instead of responsibilities. This is the most valuable resume advice I received from Communique PR’s own Jennifer Gehrt, and the sentiment was echoed in “44 Resume Writing Tips” from Daily Writing Tips. Rather than noting what your previous positions tasked you with, mention results that you achieved. For example, at Communique PR I am responsible for a variety of tasks, including ordering lunches and office supplies. Are these relevant skills to future employers? Probably not. Instead, use achievements such as “researched 10 new business proposals.” If you gained administrative experience from previous employment, save this for your skills section (i.e. familiar with Cision, well-versed in Microsoft Publisher).

Use numbers. Numbers immediately register with a reader. For example, I was vice president of standards of my sorority’s chapter last year.

Before editing my resume, I simply listed:

Vice President of Standards

1/2011- 9/2011

Managed internal affairs

After incorporating numbers:

Vice President of Standards

1/2011- 9/2011

• Managed internal affairs of 100 members
• Annual budget of $10,000
• Organized, supervised, and ran weekly committee meetings of 7 members
• Planned 2 chapter events with 80% member participation
• Facilitated negotiations between an elected council of 10, members, and national management

Incorporating numbers is a much better representation of what the position actually entailed, and makes the information easier for the reader to digest.

Know your audience. Applying for a wide range of positions? In this job market, that’s great thinking. However, tailor your resume to the different industries, companies, or even hiring managers with whom you are applying. Even if you keep the same positions, alter your achievements to include ones relevant to the position for which you’re applying.

Make use of action verbs. When describing your achievements, use action verbs to drive the point home. Examples of action verbs include ”conceptualized,” ”addressed,”  or ”demonstrated.” Find an excellent list of action verbs at Quint Careers.

Avoid templates. While it is easy to Google ”resume templates” and find some visually appealing examples, avoid using them. You don’t want to run the risk of having a resume that might be confused with someone else’s, and that is not unique. If you’re looking for inspiration, look at templates—but take the time to do original formatting.

Make use of white space. While formatting, don’t cram too much in there. A resume needs to be visually appealing and easy to read. It can be painful to remove hard-earned achievements or job experience, but if they are not relevant and leaving your resume overcrowded and difficult to discern—ditch them. You can always refer to them in the interview later.

These points have been especially helpful in fine-tuning my own resume, and they are useful for recent graduates and experienced professionals alike. Your resume is the one thing in your job search over which you have control—keep it fresh and unique by frequently updating and tweaking it.

For more useful tips check out the following:

• 44 Resume Writing Tips
• Want an Unbeatable Resume?
• Resume Writing Tips
• 20 Resume Tips from a Hiring Manager
• 17 Resume Tips that Will Get You that Job Interview

For more on news from recent graduates from Communique PR:

• It’s Who You Know
• Considering a Career in PR? Six Traits Hiring Managers Look for in New Hires