Advancing or moving around within your current company can be an effective, and often efficient, way to gain valuable work experience and further your career. Before you can apply for a new internal position, you must have a quality resume. A resume is a document that summarizes all of your job-related experience, education, skills and qualifications.

How do you write a resume for a current employer? The process is similar to writing an external resume with a few adjustments and tweeks needed.

Get the job description from human resources or personnel. Read it carefully and be sure you have the skills necessary to make the change to the new position. Make a list of what skills and accomplishments you have that directly address the needs for the position.

Include all of your current contact information at the top of your resume: phone, full address (spell out all address abbreviations and state names), email and contact phone number(s). Use your personal contact information, not your work information. Assume that the employer needs to know this information just as it would for any other applicant.

Include a Summary Statement or Professional Profile as the first section of your resume. Specifically address your interest in the position and directly tie your accomplishments at the company to the opening for which you are applying. For example, "Motivated current employee with X years of proven sales results. Interested in a management position." List bullet points with examples of how you have contributed to the company and any recognition you have received from supervisors and co-workers. Include leadership activities, sales accomplishments, awards received and committee membership.

If using a Chronological resume format (date-based), add your current position with the company and dates of employment at the top of your Relevant Work Experience section. If using a Functional format (skills-based), add your job duties in the appropriate skill category. Build on the resume that you used to land your current position.

Include sections for Education, Associations/Organizational Memberships, Volunteer Experience, and References (acknowledge that you will provide references upon request). Visit websites such as iSeek Jobs for formatting samples.

Be as detailed and descriptive as possible. Don't make assumptions. The manager who is hiring for this position may not know as much as you think she does about you and your skills, especially if she works for a different department.

Edit, edit, edit. Ask a co-worker or someone who knows the company and the position for which you are applying to look over your resume. Listen to their input and make changes as needed. Your finished product should be no more than two pages.

Save both electronic and hard copies.

Determine the deadline for submitting your application for the position and adhere strictly to that time frame.