When applying for a job, resumes are very important. They are your ticket to your dream job and future career. Prospective employers form their first impression of you based on what they see on your resume. They base their initial decision on whether or not you are worthy of their time based on what’s written on it.

In writing a resume, it is not only the details that are contained and written in your resume that are important. Even the form, presentation, and the paper used matters. All of these things are being considered by the employers in trying to decide whether or not they should call you to go to the next step of the application, which is often the interview.

When preparing a resume for a job, here are 10 smart ways you can follow when writing a resume:

1. Start off with an executive summary. In short, concise sentences, state your career highlights and particular qualifications you are most proud of. Many HR managers read only the beginning of your resume so make sure to catch their attention right away.

2. Do not include an objective. Every job seeker has the same objective, and that is to get hired. So don’t bother including one. Use that space for more important details.

3. Indicate your contact information. Place it either in the header or the footer of your resume, just as long as a potential employer can easily see them. Contact information is important because, without it, companies would have no means of contacting you. Do not limit yourself to your phone number. Also include your complete mailing address, mobile phone number, email address, and even social media profiles.

4. Include complete and accurate information. Arrange the items in your resume according to relevance and importance. If you are a fresh graduate, it is common to put educational attainment first. On the other hand, if you have previous job experiences, put the most relevant and recent jobs first. Include the time for each job, the name of the company, and short but meaningful jib descriptions.

5. Write professionally. Use the active voice instead of the passive. Use powerful and smart words. Check for any grammatical and punctuation errors.

6. Keep a simple format, Do not use too many letter styles and font sizes. Use fonts that look formal and avoid those that are too fancy, as they will only make your resume appear informal and hard to read. Do not use very small fonts, as well. Avoid making your resume appear cluttered. As a basic rule, make it plain, simple, and comprehensive.

7. Keep it short. As much as possible, make your resume as short as possible. A page is usually enough, except if it is technical or needs to contain details that cannot be taken out.

8. Proofread. Read and review your resume a couple of times before submitting it to potential employers. If you can, find another person to look at your resume so they can see errors or mistakes that you may have overlooked.

9. Make it personal. Write a cover letter to include in your resume to make it appear more customized and make you look more interested.

10. Keep a strong focus. Your resume should be able to showcase a narrative about your current and previous careers. Make sure to establish a single focus and avoid shifting from one skill to a totally different one. For instance, if you are a graphic artist, you may want to omit non-related skills and job stints, such as working as a cashier in a restaurant or tutoring children for music.

By following these tips on writing a professional resume, you can be one step closer to your dream job.