(Editor's note: This is a new monthly series that will provide helpful lifestyle tips.)

Q: With today's tough economy, I have to look for a job after spending many years at home caring for our children. Where do I start in pulling a resume together?

A: First, you're not alone. Many women have successfully faced this issue after being forced to go back to work. There are several steps you can follow to get your resume ready for re-entering the work force.

Resume content has changed considerably over the last few years with so many people looking for work. First, think of your resume as a marketing document with you as the product. Your information must be compelling and showcase the results an employer can expect you to deliver. You have about 30 seconds to grab the hiring manager's attention and entice them to schedule an interview with you.

It takes some serious work and time to create a persuasive resume. Block off a morning or an afternoon so you can do some quality thinking about what you did during your time away from work. Get paper or your PC and list your experiences: paid, unpaid and volunteer. Next, pinpoint your accomplishments from those activities. Did you manage the finances for a club? That's budgeting. Coach a school activity? That's leadership. Manage fund-raising for a community event? That's planning, execution, sales and maybe even PR. Keep these tips and pointers in mind:

- Using an objective statement at the beginning doesn't get your resume off to a strong start. (Like fashions, resume content changes as well based on needs of the marketplace.) Use crisp, well-defined phrases that describe what you can do for a prospective employer. Tell the hiring manager ASAP what you bring to the table. Here's a brief example for someone seeking a sales position: High energy goal-oriented professional with proven ability to consistently achieve high sales volume. Dynamic relationship builder who uses industry knowledge to build credibility, reach decision-makers and close sales. Natural talent for generating enthusiasm, instilling confidence and influencing change to generate revenue gains.

- Tell the reader how you handled a specific situation.

Think of a challenge you faced, what action you took to fix the problem and what the results were.

Here's an example for someone with a training background: created an innovative technical training program that reduced cross-training time by 40 percent, increased productivity by 15 percent and decreased head count by 5 percent. That descriptor delivers a lot more punch than just saying "developed a new training program!"

- Use three to five impactful and pertinent bullet points per position and always begin the item with a power verb.

- Use a clean font for printed resumes. Avoid cluttered margins. Make appropriate use of bold and italic fonts. Use a common date format. Include blank lines to separate the various sections of your resume.

- Include community activities and associations if they demonstrate applicable skills related to the position you are seeking.

(Jane Perdue is a volunteer job coach at the Center for Women and President of The Braithewaite Group (www.thebraithewaitegroup.com). The Center for Women is a local, nonprofit organization whose mission is to help women succeed personally and professionally. For information on job search workshops and one-on-one job counseling, go to www.c4women.org or call (843) 763-7333.)