A strong resume doesn't get you the job, but it definitely helps in landing an interview. And at a time when employers are being bombarded by hundreds of resumes, career experts note that it's becoming even more important to stand out.

Without a referral, the resume becomes the single most distinguishing factor in getting the interview, says Patrick Snow, a Bainbridge Island, Wash.-based career coach and author of "Create Your Own Destiny."

It can be confusing to sort through all sorts of services and resources available to help young job hunters with crafting a resume. But experts say a good starting point is their alma maters' career development office, which often offers help in writing resumes. Experts also encourage job candidates to examine resumes of those who were successful in getting jobs in the field they plan to pursue.

Both Monster.com and Yahoo! HotJobs offer tips on their Web sites on how to create a winning resume. Such hints include using an active voice and making sure to quantify achievements with tangible results. Both sites also allow job hunters to subscribe for free to newsletters tailored to the industry they are pursuing, with tips for writing a successful resume for a specific career. Yahoo! HotJobs also has a partnership with a resume writing service called ResumeEdge.com

Job seekers also can turn to a resume writing service. Prices can be as low as $40 per hour to as high as $150 an hour, according to Frank Fox, executive director of the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Those just starting out shouldn't spend more than $200 total, since they don't have as much experience as someone more seasoned, experts said.

The big plus for using a service is that an impartial third party can help strike a balance between boasting and being too humble, Fox said. But the big negative is that a resume can look canned.

So, before hiring a professional, it's best to make sure the resume service is a member of a professional resume writing association and can meet your personal needs, according to Scott Brown, vice president of development for HireSites, a career service based in New York, and author of an online resource called the Job Search Handbook.

The Web sites of the Professional Association of Resume Writers/Career Coaches (parw .com) and the National Resume Writers' Association (nrwaweb .com) allow people to search for professional resume services in a specific location.

Here are some other tips: