If you were selling a product that you manufactured, would you send out shoddy, careless samples to prospective buyers? Would you mail out sloppy brochures, with out-of-focus pictures and tons of spelling mistakes? Surely, you would go over both your product and sales materials with a fine-toothed comb, making certain you weeded out anything that would make them look bad. The last thing you'd want is your merchandise getting a reputation for being substandard and inferior.

Now, it's time to market an all-important product - YOU. After all the time, energy, effort, and hard work you've invested in your career, shouldn't you present yourself in the best light? Your resume is your first step toward this goal.