1. get the formatting right. line up bullet points, dates, headings. wacky spacing will get you questioned about skills that have nothing to do with what you can do on the job. and please learn to put dates flush against the right margin. the right-aligned tab stop remains a mystery as deep as an ocean for many resume writers.
2. insert dates for everything. if you've got a gap, explain it in your cover letter. but don't leave the dates off a job or a degree. maybe you're worried they'll think you're too old or too young — but at best you'll look sloppy. at worst, sneaky.
3. fill up on the buzzwords. yes, buzzwords are typically "bad" for clarity, but you have to get past the hr department first, and they're screening for matches with the words in the job description. sarbanes-oxley (sox), consumer goods industry, certified project manager, spl, bmn, flb...whatever it is that matches the requirements, put it in.
4. choose verbs that mean something. "assisted," "worked on," "contributed to" and so on don't convey much to a prospective employer. instead, say what you did: "wrote," "designed," or "managed." the more specific, the better.
5. rewrite your r