Those that work in web and graphic design have it tough right now. The job market is packed, and if you want to get past the application stage you've got to impress. How can you make your resume stand out above all the other recruiters will see? Here are the 9 top tips that will get you that interview.

Word may be fine for most jobs, but you're applying for a design role. That means that you need to create something that really shows off your skills. Use a tool like Illustrator to create a resume that's clean, concise and good looking. It's also a great way to show, rather than tell, that you can use certain tools. If you're asked to have expertise in them in the job listing, use them to create the resume.

Pay close attention to the job description, and look for the skills they're asking for. If they're looking for skills in a certain program, you can display them by creating your resume in it, as discussed above. You can also mention skills that have helped you complete projects in the past, when applicable. For example, if they want typography skills, use a font that you invented. Now's the time to be creative in displaying your skills.

"The wrong font can make all the difference to a design resume," says resume proofreader James Carroll from Elite Assignment Help. "It can make your resume look unprofessional, or inexperienced." Of course, you don't want that. Pick a font that's clean and easy to read. Fonts like Arial are often best, but do some research before making yours.

Sometimes the file size of a designer's resume can get quite large without you realising. Make it too large, and it may not even attach to an email. Keep an eye on your size, keeping it as small as possible. The smaller it is, the faster it will be to load on a recruiter's machine so they can get reading it ASAP.

There's lots of tools out there that can help you get the most out of your resume. Here's some you can try when writing yours:

• Resume Service: Use this service to write the body of your resume.
• Word Counter: This tool will help you keep your resume concise and to the point.
• UKWritings: This writing agency can help you out, check out a UKWritings review.
• Via Writing and Grammarix: These tools can both help you improve your grammar.
• Essayroo: This service is recommended by Best Australian Writers for resume services, read Essayroo review there.
• Cite It In: Cite any sources you use correctly with this tool.
• BoomEssays: This type of writing service is recommended by the Huffington Post for resume writers.
• State Of Writing and My Writing Way: Writing guides that you can put to use with your resume.

In a design resume, color is to be expected. You're showing off your skills, and that includes how you match colors together in your creations. Just be careful with your choices, as the color will affect how your text can be read. For example, yellow text on green is going to be difficult to read.

Recruiters have about six seconds to make a decision on your resume. You've got to give yourself every chance of being noticed in that time frame. If your resume is too long, it'll be ditched right away. Try and keep it to one page, by including only the most essential information.

These days, you'll have a headshot of yourself online, whether it's on LinkedIn, Twitter, or your own personal webpage. Because of this, it's not really necessary to include one on your resume itself.

Finally, ensure you're proofreading and editing your resume before you send it out. Give yourself enough time to really check over your resume, using different passes to look for different kinds of errors. For example, use one pass to look for spelling errors, and another to look for factual mistakes.

These tips will help you create a design resume that will get you noticed by recruiters. It's all about creating a quality resume that gives them all the information they need right away. Give these tips a try and you'll get that interview!