Résumé checklist: What do to before applying for a job

When writing the first draft of your résumé, you probably know it could be -- and should be -- stronger than it is. If you're like many job seekers, though, you might feel pretty mystified as to which specific steps will lead you to more powerful content and a more attractive design.

Fortunately, boosting a bland résumé or simply polishing it before applying for a job isn't as cumbersome as you might expect. According to Evelyn Salvador, author of "Step-by-Step Résumés," there are many simple, yet effective, tricks that can significantly strengthen your résumé's readability, call to action, marketability and overall appearance.

In her book, Salvador recommends you take the following steps to improve a résumé before using it to apply for jobs: