There is no absolute format for resumes. The following styles are general guidelines for developing resume formats potential employers are familiar with and can easily browse/understand:

Chronological
Most common, easiest to prepare. Format is a chronological listing of positions and experience with the most recent mentioned first. Best for those with direct work experience without long periods of unemployment and/or many job changes.

Functional
Focuses on skills and accomplishments by highlighting what they are, and not when you developed them. Best for people with lots of experience and many jobs, people changing careers, people entering the work force with no track record.

Academic
Concentrates on academic credentials and accomplishments. Often used by new graduates with little or no related experience, or no previous work experience at all.

Combination
Everybody is different and no one particular style may be the perfect fit so a combination may suit you best.

Electronic
It is high tech (computer) version of your paper resume. There are three types of electronic resumes: Scannable, E-mailable and Multimedia resume.

The Scannable Resume is a paper resume that becomes electronic when is set on the glass of a scanner bed. During the scanning process the black dots ink are turned into words in a computer.

The E-mailable Resume is designed to be sent across the Internet without being lost or distorted. It's a file format (Microsoft Word) resume saved as a generic Plain Text file. This format does not include pictures, fonts, graphics or anything of that nature - just words. Such generic format allows the file to be opened and red by anyone using any type of word processing.

The Multimedia Resume is normally used by computer programmers, home page developers, graphic designers, cartoonist, and anyone who can benefit from the usage of photographs, graphics, animations, sound, color etc. It is usually created on a CD or as a web page.

Check out this listing of action words to include in your resume:

Resume Action Words

Check out these links for additional resume advice:

Monster - Resume Center
HotJobs - Resume Writing

Career Journal (Wall Street Journal) - Resumes
Resume-Resource.com

JobStar Central - Resumes

Rockport Institute - Resumes

Riley Guide - Resumes