Electronic
Resumes have become the norm in the job search process.
They can be divided into at least three groups:
E-Mail
Format:
When e-mailing your
resume to employers, it will need to be in a specific format, otherwise
it will end up a jumbled mess
in their inbox. It is
also a good idea to do a “trial run” by sending your resume
to a friend or to an alternate email address to see what it looks like
on the receiver’s end. Be aware that many companies will no longer
accept attachments, so you will need to send your resume in the body
of the email. In order to send a clear resume, you cannot simply copy
and paste it into the body of the email. Instead, you will need to make
a separate resume for emailing. Although it is not a very attractive
looking resume, it is certainly readable and that is the main function
of this resume.
In addition, you
will need to send a cover letter in the same email. It is usually best
to begin the email with the cover
letter, mention
in the letter that your resume is included in the email, and then put
your resume within the email. For help on writing a cover letter, please
refer to the “Cover Letters” page within this section.
Click here to see an example of the electronic resume format. (Note
that no bullets, fancy fonts, or bold are used in the sample resume.)
HTML Resumes:
Many job seekers are now creating web-based resumes. This involves creating
a home page with links to a resume and/or a portfolio. With all the free
server space available and the ability to quickly create web sites, it
is very easy to create your own HTML resume.
An HTML Resume has
several advantages: it’s portable, it’s
easily forwarded, it’s available 24/7, it’s a great way to
show off your technical abilities, and it’s an ideal venue for
portfolios.
Examples of HTML Resumes:
http://www.geocities.com/csusb_student/jim_nazium_resume.html
http://www.geocities.com/csusb_student/sandy_beach.html
For more assistance in creating your own HTML resume, stop in to the
Career Development Center and ask for help.
Scannable - Format Resumes:
Many companies and organizations are beginning to use Optimal Character
Recognition computer programs (or OCR) to review resumes. County agencies,
large corporations, and even hospitals have had to begin this practice
because of the sheer volume of resumes they receive daily. While the
process is great for the company, it is often frustrating for the job
seeker.
The OCR system is
programmed to pick up on “key words.” For
example, if the system is set up to find 15 of the 20 key words, but
your resume only has 14 of them – your resume will NOT be kept
for further review. A cover letter is not required when submitting a
scannable-format resume.
Basic guidelines:
- Can be longer than a traditional resume, up to 4 pages long
- Be
sure to review the position description for the job you are seeking
and look for key skills, qualifications, and requirements
to
highlight in your resume
- Spell out %, &, $, and any acronyms; the OCR system can not read
these
- Put your name, address, and other contact information
on EVERY page in the upper left-hand corner
- This resume may appear to look very boring, but the
computer will not be impressed with your fancy graphics;
it may
even automatically
shred your resume if it cannot read it!
DO:
- Submit an original resume, not a photocopy
- Limit your resume
to 2-4 pages, one-sided only
- Use laser or ink-jet quality paper
- Use standard, 8 ½ x 11” white paper, with black ink only
- Use standard 1-inch margins
- Use a font size of 10 to 14 points
- ONLY use fonts: Helvetica and Arial
- Use all capital letters for headings
- Use action words (a list is available in the general information
part of the “Resumes” section on this web site) to describe
your experience
- Begin with a section called “summary” where you will list
key words that demonstrate your experience (i.e., “managed, distributed,
trained”)
- Remember to include – equipment you have used (i.e., forklift);
licenses/certifications you possess; job-specific functions and terminology;
foreign languages (but, do not list “English”)
DON’T:
- Use italics, underlining, bold, or special characters (the computer can’t
read them)
- Staple the pages together
- Fold any of the pages
- Hand write anything on the papers
- Use multiple columns, landscape formats, etc.
An example of a Scannable-Format Resume is available.
Example
of a Scannable-Format Resume
All rights reserved © Copyright 2003.
The CSUSB Career Development Center.
For problems or questions regarding this website contact Webmaster.
Last updated: January 7, 2005
|
