Imagine a resume that includes more than employers' names, dates of employment, references and educational history. Imagine one devoid of subjective qualifications and self-marketing hyperbole. Think about an employment portfolio that introduces you as an expert in your field. Achieving expert status may not be as difficult as you think. But exactly what is an expert?

One dictionary defines it as being "highly skilled or knowledgeable." In reality, you're an expert in your field if someone considers you to be an expert in your field. You have to make yourself an expert. In doing so, you'll improve your career prospects and opportunities for advancement.

Here are six methods you can use to become known as an expert and advance your career:

1. Become a public speaker. Perhaps the fastest way to gain attention on a local level is to speak before groups and organizations. This activity also is a highly valuable networking tool. Displaying your expertise in front of decision-makers can lead to stronger business relationships and information about job opportunities.

"[Public] speaking is an excellent way to gain recognition as an expert," says Anne Baber, owner of Baber & Associates, a Lenexa, Kan., firm that helps professionals with networking. Anyone can volunteer to speak for free for service clubs and civic organizations. These opportunities will help you hone your speaking skills and become a good speaker, says Ms. Baber.

Speaking opportunities abound with associations, church groups, trade groups and clubs. Contact these groups and offer to address their members at an upcoming breakfast, lunch or evening meeting. Take business cards and spend time with the members. The next person you meet may have information about a career opportunity. As the "expert," people will be eager to hear what you have to say.

Eventually, you may be able to earn a little extra cash from speaking engagements. "When someone in your audience comes up to you after your program, hands you a business card and asks, ‘What would you charge to present this program to my company?' you know you're good enough to be paid," says Dottie Walters, president of Walters International Speakers Bureau in Glendora, Calif., and author of "Speak & Grow Rich" (1997, Prentice Hall).

If you fear public speaking, you're not alone. Locate a Toastmasters group in your area. The group's weekly meetings are dedicated to helping professionals polish their public-speaking skills. These skills will help you as your career advances.

2. Write for publication. A fast and effective way to receive recognition is to write about your area of specialty for the local newspaper, an association newsletter or company publication. After you've been published, it will be easier to convince editors that you're worthy of space in their publications.

"Building a resume or portfolio of your best clips increases your profile with editors," says Sandy Whelchel, executive director of the National Writers Association, an organization based in Parker, Colo., that helps members improve their writing and find publishers.

Such groups as the NWA can provide you with writing resources and tips. Several books are also available to help you get started, including "Writer's Market" (1998, Writers Digest Books), which can help you find suitable publications for your articles. There are certain norms involved in obtaining free-lance writing assignments from editors, and these books also can help you learn how to approach editors at your target publications.

When you include writing clips with your resume and cover letter, you'll appear to be an authority in your area of specialty. This can make a favorable impression on hiring managers and boost your job candidacy.

3. Offer your expertise to print and broadcast media. Contact local publications, and provide them with written material about your background and expertise. Explain that you're available for interviews about your area of specialty.

You also should contact trade and national magazines, national newspapers and columnists who write about your specialty. These professionals look for sources of information and opinion when they write stories. If they've written a story about your specialty, write a letter of opinion to the publication where the story appeared. You may never be the subject of a cover story in a national publication, but the circulation of the publication that cites you isn't as critical as the fact that you were interviewed because of your expertise.

You can make sure radio and television stations in your city know you by using the same approach as with print media. Provide the stations' news directors with your background and expertise, and make it clear you'd be happy to help them if they do a story relevant to your field. Most radio stations prefer to include "sound'' (an interview) with their stories. Similarly, television stations prefer to include a video clip of either an interview or an event with the interview on "voice-over."

If you're really aggressive, scan the media for upcoming events relevant to your field. Find out who will cover the story, contact him or her before the event and explain you'd be happy to assist with the development of the story. After all, you have expertise that can help this person.

While you may be hesitant to reach out to reporters, the attitude you must have is that they need your help to be effective. Keep video and audio records of your appearances. Even if you don't include these clips with your employment application, you still can mention that you've been interviewed on television and radio about a particular topic.

4. Publish a newsletter. Don't be frightened by the term "publish." If you have a computer and a word processing program, you can publish a newsletter. If you can talk about your area of expertise, you can write about it.

"My newsletter has made it possible for me to reach a wide audience on a limited budget," says Gary Foreman, publisher of the Dollar Stretcher online newsletter based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "It's been invaluable in advancing my reputation."

There are thousands of newsletters being sent to millions of people. With the help of relevant industry associations and personal contacts, you should be able to find an audience interested in your specialty.

If your newsletter becomes widely known, you may find you can make money from subscriptions. "If you know something that other people don't know, or if you know how to get information that people want, you can make money in newsletters," says Howard P. Hudson, Rhinebeck, N.Y., author of "Publishing Newsletters" (1998, H & M Publishers) and the "Newsletter on Newsletters."

If you're going to offer a newsletter, consider having a proofreader check it for factual and grammatical accuracy. Too many errors could damage your credibility. Done well, your newsletter will be evidence of your expertise when you apply for your next job.

5. Get online. The Internet is a wide-open place where you can promote your expert credentials. Start by developing your own home page--it's not as difficult as you might think. Such Internet services as America Online and Tripod.com offer each of their members opportunities to create home pages. Take advantage of this tool to establish yourself in cyberspace. Include your photo, background, experience, qualifications and achievements.

Or you can start your own web page and register an exclusive domain name, www.yourname.com, for example. The cost of registering a domain name using a service such as Internic (www.internic.com) recently has dropped to less than $100 for two years, and it's relatively inexpensive to have an Internet service provider host your Web site.

Another place on the Internet to build your reputation as an expert is Usenet newsgroups, public forums on a wide variety of topics (see www.liszt.com for a list of newsgroups). You can make contacts in your industry and offer opinions and expertise through discussions that take place in newsgroups.

Including a reference on your resume to your personal home page or your involvement in Usenet newsgroups can show potential employers you don't fear technology and like to stay current on trends in your industry.

-- Mr. Ryan, a free-lance business writer in Colorado Springs, Colo., is the author of "Speak With Confidence Now!" (1997, Productive Publications).