How can you gain an edge in finding a new job? Executive recruiter Peter Bell of Peter Bell & Associates, LLC, has some top tips for the resume process:

* Keep the resume design simple: Bell says that white paper and a simple, readable font like Times New Roman or Arial are the best choices. He cautions against “photos, colors or fancy fonts,” as they detract from readability.

* Include complete contact information: This includes your full name, your physical and email addresses, as well as your home, cell and work telephone numbers. Bell says you should use “your personal email, and not your workplace one.” Since this document will reflect your professionalism, he recommends using “a simple email address, not one that you might have used demonstrating your partying prowess in college.”

* Make sure your spelling and grammar are perfect: Bell says you should check your resume for spelling, grammar, spacing and punctuation. “Then, have someone else check it,” he says. “Do it again.”

* Keep it short: Bell says your resume should be a maximum of between two and three pages long. You should leave off your salary history and references from the document. Bell says you can always provide those to the employer later.

Peter Bell & Associates is one of New York’s top executive search firms. The Think Human offers life, career, and executive coaching services.