Here is a tip I learned from my MBA career office long ago, and I believe this formula will add strength to any resume. It's called STAR-- Situation Task Action Result. Basically, you take some attribute you are trying to highlight, and come up with an applied example. The MIT Career Office does a great job of explaining this technique. Take a look at some example Action Words and Adapive Personal Traits you can incorporate into your resume.

Now, for every line in your resume, ask yourself "So what?" If you can answer this question and relate it to the job you are applying for, then leave that line in your resume. If not, take it out or reword it to be more relevant to the job you are applying for. When applying to specific jobs, make sure you address every qualification you possess that the employer highlights in the posting.

If you have more than one potential career path you are focusing on in your job search, create a resume for each. This is more for the ‘Broadcast’ resume that you will send to recruiters and HR for general openings in a field. Resumes for specific jobs should be customized, as appropriate.

Basically, there are two types of resumes: the reverse chronological resume and the functional resume. Everything else is generally a mix of the two. The reverse chronological resume presents your education and work experience in reverse chronological order. If the majority of your work experience is related to your stated job objective, the chronological style can be effective. A functional resume differs from a chronological resume in that it concentrates on highlighting transferable skills that relate to your stated objective rather than on the jobs you have had. A functional resume is particularly effective if your work experience has not been closely related to your job objective (e.g., if you are changing careers). For example resumes, check out CareerPerfect or Quintessential Careers.

You will also want to create resumes for online and offline use. An online resume is going to be simple, with no fancy characters or fonts that will not be read correctly when scanned into a database, or sent via email. Creating a simple version of your resume would be best done in MS Notepad or similar. Your online resume should contain the same information as your offline resume, with the exception of perhaps a keyword section.

TIP: If you have a gap in your resume, it is always better to explain what you have been doing with your time than to ignore it. If you have taken time out of your career to raise a family, then say so and explain what skills you have used (e.g., negotiation, time management, etc.). Also, don’t forget to elaborate on any relevant community service and volunteer work you have done.

NOTE: If you are still unsure about your resume writing abilities, you may find a Resume Writing Service to be of great value. It is better to pay up front and get a job quickly than to drag out your job search due to a poorly written resume. Resume writing services worth considering include ResumeEdge, e-resume, Resume Corner, and Employment911.

Additional Resume Resources:

Guerilla Resumes
Resume- Wikipedia
Quintessential Careers