When you've had just one job to your name, transforming that blank page on your computer screen into a compelling resume may seem overwhelming.

You'll likely need to do more than just flesh out your job history to hook hiring managers. They may wonder about your skills, motivation and ability to adjust to a new work environment, says Tom Morgan, vice president of Pencom Systems Inc., an executive-search firm in New York.

Here are some tips for writing a resume that can allay these concerns.

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1. Include a branding statement.

In most cases you'll want to draw in a recruiter or hiring manager right from the top of the document. Write a short introduction showcasing your functional strengths, transferable skills, and personal attributes. Ideally it should provide a snapshot of your career in about one to three sentences. Put this "branding statement" immediately following your name and contact information.

"Branding statements advertise the value you bring at first glance, before the recruiter learns how long you have been in the work force," says Abby Locke, president of Premier Writing Solutions, an executive resume-writing and personal branding service company in Washington, D.C. [See an example of a branding statement]

James MacLachlan, a 36-year-old data analyst in Seattle, says he didn't receive much interest in his resume until he worked with a resume writer and created a branding statement. He'd been searching for a job for six weeks during the end of a five-year stint teaching in Japan. The statement said: "Utilize Arc Software to survey and determine property boundaries, easements, wetlands, and outline property locations and dimensions, providing a full analysis of geospatial/cartographic data."

"The response was tremendous," says Mr. MacLachlan. "I got dozens of responses."

2. Use subheadings.

Below your branding statement, list the employer, job title and dates of employment, followed by three to five subheadings, reflecting different skills or the evolution of your responsibilities, says Laurie Smith, president of Creative Keystrokes Executive Resume Service in Gastonia, N.C. Each subhead should have a brief supporting paragraph or bullet points. [See an example of subheadings]

"Even if you weren't promoted, you may have done a lot in different areas," says Ms. Locke.

Show progression where you can. But if you weren't promoted, don't create job titles.

"There doesn't have to necessarily be a hierarchy of responsibilities, but you should be able to show diversity," says Tom Jackson, author of "The Perfect Resume" (Doubleday, 2004) and president of Equinox Interactive, an organizational consulting firm in Boston.

If your company underwent an acquisition or merger while you worked there, breaking your work into "before, during and after" sections can help showcase your range of skills as well as added responsibilities, says Ms. Smith. For example, during the merger, your job duties may have changed and you may have trained employees. You could highlight this leadership role in your "during" section.

If you were involved in special projects that exposed you to different areas or used new skills, a "Special Projects" section can add breadth to your experience, says Teena Rose, president of Resume to Referral, Resume and Career Services in Springfield, Ohio. Use it to introduce different skills and accomplishments than those mentioned elsewhere, she says.

Tip 3: Bolster work experience.

Your job often isn't the only place where you may have gained relevant experience. Consider creating a section for highlighting know-how acquired in internships, volunteer work and professional organizations that may strengthen your candidacy.

"You may have applied necessary skills in other realms that you may be able to repackage as professional experience," says Alex Twersky, a resume consultant in New York.

Internships and volunteer work can show a range of experience that you might not have in your job, says Ford Myers, president of Career Potential, a career-consulting firm in Radnor, Pa. They also can portray you as adaptable to different work environments, says Ms. Smith. [See an example of professional and civic organizations used to bolster work experience]

Mr. MacLachlan cited a paid internship in data analysis for a government organization to help him secure a position as an independent contractor data analyst with TeleCommunication Systems' Seattle office. He highlighted skills from the internship related to the job he was seeking. These included: geographical information software skills and knowledge of geographical concepts.

"I wanted to highlight the experience I had in my past that was relevant to the jobs I was applying to," says Mr. MacLachlan.

A section titled "Professional Development" can show recruiters that you are motivated to build and improve your skills. You may want to include workshops and seminars you attended, as well as certifications and training, says Ms. Smith. An "Education" section can list a few relevant college courses you took to show familiarity with important subjects. Avoid going overboard and listing your entire curriculum, says Mr. Twersky