A resume is basically a summary of your skills, qualifications and background to send to potential employers for review, usually sent with, before or in lieu of an application. The goal is to gain the attention of the employer during the screening process and give them all information needed to bring you to the next step in the hiring process- an interview.
If you are completely new to resume building or you are starting from scratch there are a few sites like LiveCareer or ThePCman's Free Resume Creator to help you begin. My personal favorite job-searching sites, CareerBuilder also has a resume builder and is how I created my first resume. If you are still struggling with how to get one started, contact your local workforce development or department of labor to see what services may be available to you.
Here's a link to a pretty good and basic sample. It's run-of-the-mill, in my opinion, but will give you some sort of idea on what you're aiming for if you are completely new to this.
Some companies use a software to scan resumes for keywords they are looking for in potential employees. Often, these keywords are found in the job description or on their company's about page. Take a moment before sending your resume to read over the mission statement for the company, find words they use a lot or seem to highlight and try to incorporate these into your resume.
This is a list of keyword ideas to consider: List of Resume and Cover Letter Keywords
My biggest advice? Don't lie. Don't over exaggerate. Do play up your skills and what you have to offer. There's a big difference between creating a radiant resume that highlights your qualifications even if you do not have much experience and one that fudges everything.
Missed my first post in this series? Check it out here! Work From Home 101: Home Office Essentials
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