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Archive for the ‘Resumes and Portfolios’ Category

Making Electronic Resumes Work

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Electronic resumes are resumes that are submitted electronically, whether via email, a website or database, or through scanning. It’s very common to be asked to submit a resume electronically because doing so makes organization on the company’s end simple. Most companies now require that someone scan paper resumes into a computer for filing and sorting, so if it is already submitting electronically, this step is eliminated.

As a result, you may find yourself submitting a resume via a website that allows you to cut and paste a text version or browse and submit a .Doc or .PDF version. Some companies may ask for you to submit yours via email. If you are beginning a job search and are unfamiliar with any of these technologies, it’s good to brush up on them as soon as possible. This way, you won’t feel lost if you’re required to submit via an electronic format.

With electronic resumes, especially those that are submitted through a website format, it is a good idea to consider incorporating strategic keywords. What are keywords? They are specific words found throughout the resume that help the hiring manager determine how closely matched your skills are to the industry and job position you’re applying for. They are important when submitting electronic resumes because many companies use specific software to pinpoint these keywords. So if you want to tackle this head-on, it’s good to find words that define your industry and the job you’re applying for then strategically place them throughout your electronic resume.

While companies have made the process of submitting resumes much simpler by allowing us to submit them electronically, it’s still a good idea to incorporate the traditional resume into your process. In other words, even if a company asks that job applicants submit resumes via a website or email, if you’re really serious about the job then it doesn’t hurt to also follow up with a hard copy of your resume that you send via U.S. mail. Yeah, it’s true; this means you’ll still need to buy resume paper. But to go through this extra step can keep your name in the hiring manager’s mouth – a definite bonus.

Guides To Prepare A Excellent Resume

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Are you looking for a new job? Starting with preparation of a excellent resume. Because resume is not just a piece of paper that gives the employer some information about yourself, but rather something that will set you apart from the others applying for the same position. You can find a resume writing sample online or in many different books. But, making diffirence for yourself with these guides.

One thing that we see over and over again in resumes is an overload of information. There are many resume writers that think quantity will impress people over quality. They are dead wrong. Employers are busy people, and don’t have all day to dig through a mountain of information. So keep it informative, but to the point. Don’t add things in there that aren’t relevant to the job. In other words, don’t list that you like pets when you’re applying for a job as a web designer. In keeping with the “to the point” rule, keep your resume to one page. They shouldn’t have to flip a page over to see what they are looking for. This is a waste of their time.

So what should you include on your resume?

- Your name and other information on how to reach you. It’s kind of pointless handing in a resume if they can’t get back to you. :)

- Your Objective. There are quite often other positions to fill, so make sure to specify what you are applying for.

- Training and Education. List your training and education with the most recent being on top. List only what is related to the job. Make sure to list any side classes you took that could be related to the job.

- Experience. Make sure once again that you are showing quality, and not quantity. If you are really weak in the experience area, still be careful as to not make it seem like you are just trying to fill in some space.

Although you want to keep a resume to one page, you must not do so by using a font that is difficult to read because it is too small. I find that a font size of 12 or so does the trick. Anything smaller than a point size of 11 is pushing it, and might make it hard to read. This is especially the case if the employer is older. One test to see if the font is too small is to ask a parent to read it. If they have to squint or move the resume back and forth until they find a good
reading distance, you might have something that is challenging to read. Fonts that you might want to use are Times New Roman, Arial, Garamond, Bookman, or Helvetica. These are easier to read, and can be found pretty much on any computer. Don’t bother with crazy script fonts or other fun looking fonts. You want to make sure your resume reflects professionalism and structure, not a casual direction or feel.

Make sure that your resume has room to breathe. Don’t clutter and squeeze things in just to fit them in. Adding some space creates a nice visual organization that breaks down the page into more manageable pockets of information, and makes it easier for an employer to find what they are looking for. It’s very hard scanning through information when it’s all squished together. So keep it nicely spaced.

When you are ready to finally print this resume, make sure not to get cheap on the paper it’s printed on, or the way it is printed. Use a laser printer when printing your resume up, and make sure it’s on crisp thicker stock paper that doesn’t have any blemishes or folds. Make sure to have at least 20lb stock. Outputting to a laser printer will ensure the darkest text, and that it won’t bleed or smear. Inkjets just don’t cut it for this task.

In the end, make sure you keep it simple and to the point. Don’t add what you don’t need to for the sake of making you look busy or important. Just add what is necessary to reflect the important aspects that will make yourself a good fit for that company. Give the resume room to breathe, and don’t skimp out on the printing process.

The first impression is very important. And your first impression is your resume that you present it while applying for your dream job. So, preparing a impressive resume can bring to you a lot of excited things, specific a good job.