Job hunters currently are facing one of the most grim employment markets of the past two decades. Competition is fierce, as recent layoff victims vie against new college graduates for available jobs. Employers now are receiving hundreds of applications for every open position. In an environment like this, how does one cut through the clutter and get a resume noticed?

According to experts at the Career Center at DePaul University, the answers vary depending on the position being sought and the experience level of the applicant. However, there is one constant: make sure resumes and cover letters are driven by accomplishments.

"Having a resume that is accomplishment-based rather than just a laundry list of positions, education and responsibilities is going to show an employer that you have a set of transferable skills that will suit their company," said Tess Nyka, assistant director and career specialist at the Career Center at DePaul.

Even for college grads entering the job market, Nyka recommended taking the accomplishment approach as opposed to merely listing degrees, grades and extracurricular activities.

"Don’t list coursework, but you can note project work from classes, internships and outside activities," Nyka said. "Anything that shows a set of skills, such as teamwork, project management or hands-on experience in a related field is appropriate to include."

One of the most important first impressions a job applicant can make is with their cover letter. Nyka noted that far too many people don’t spend adequate time preparing a cover letter, if they include one at all.

"The cover letter is another opportunity for you to sell yourself to the company and match the skills in your resume with the employer’s needs for that position," she noted. "Hence, it’s important to tailor your cover letter for each different company and position."

While some companies’ human resource staffs admittedly don’t read cover letters, Nyka said it still pays to include one that is well-written and carefully thought out.

"It’s another method to separate candidates when deciding who to interview," she said. "If a candidate has included a ‘cookie cutter’ cover letter or none at all, it’s another way for an employer to weed them out of consideration."

Nyka acknowledged that most resumes and cover letters are sent via e-mail these days, however, she said it’s still important to use the preferred method of the employer. As for the resume itself, there are many different options for structure and layout. However, Nyka said that "content is what counts." While a creative resume design may be an option for job seekers in some fields, Nyka was quick to note that a fancy visual presentation will not substitute for needed skills.

For entry-level job seekers, Nyka recommends a traditional format, with name and contact information centered at the top of the page, followed by a career objective statement, education and then work experience. For a job seeker with at least a few years of employment, Nyka recommends starting with a summary statement or career overview followed by relevant experience tailored to that company’s field. Resumes should be one page for entry and junior-level job seekers and no more than two pages for more experienced workers.

During this uncertain economy, many job hunters may wonder how to deal with mentioning the fact that a previous employer is out of business or to note a time lapse due to unemployment or layoff. Nyka told of ways to go about this without worry.

"If a company is out of business or has been merged, simply note this fact in parentheses under the name of the company on your resume," she said. "And in this economy, chronological gaps are much more acceptable to employers than in years past."

As always, people should employ a friend, relative, career advisor or co-worker as a proofreader before any resume or cover letter gets sent out, as spelling errors and typos are "fatal" to your chances, Nyka warned. For mailed resumes, thicker paper stock in muted colors should be used.

Finally, more and more job hunters are including a Web address for an online portfolio with their resume. These portfolios, which are growing in popularity in the technology sector, allow an employer to view samples of a candidate’s work at their leisure.

"It’s another way for an employer to see the work you have done and for a candidate to market themselves," said Aisha Ghori, assistant director and career specialist at the Career Center. "It hasn’t become an expectation yet, but it can definitely set you apart if it’s done well."

DePaul is the largest private university in Chicago and the eighth-largest private university in the nation. A richly diverse population of 23,227 students attends classes on two city and six suburban campuses. More information can be received by calling the Career Center at DePaul at 312/362-8437 or by visiting http://careercenter.depaul.edu.