Resume Tips

Online Job Search Advice

Apr 15, 2009 Beverly Lee

The Internet has made it possible to search online for a job. And this job search online requires a specially formatted plain text resume.

The purpose of a resume is to sell the applicants' special skills and abilities to employers so that job seekers can get that interview to further promote their talents and convince employers they are the right person for the job opening, is the essence of what is stated in Resumes! Resumes! Resumes! by the Editors of Career Press, Third Edition, ISBN 1-564-309-0. Many applicants find it difficult to acquire that initial interview without the help of a well written resume.

Modern technology and the World Wide Web opened the doors for many job applicants to a rapid new way to job search online. Online cCompanies now expect job applicants to submit plain text resumes so they might quickly add them to their databases. Why? A plain text resume is easily read by most computers because this type of resume does not contain any special coding that might make it difficult for other computers to read. Learning to prepare a proper plain text resume is easier than one might think. And the process is simple if the job applicant already has a regular resume to scan into their computer.

Resume Options

Applicants have two options. Scan an existing resume into their home computer and save the resume to disk. Then send this resume via email to selected employers as an attached document. Or the applicant might prefer to prepare a plain text resume (e-resume) from scratch.

Preparing Plain Text Resume

According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, the plain text resume should include the same information that is on a regular resume. The only exception is that a "keyword section" should also be included on the resume. Note: A good way to get accurate keywords for the job opening is to review the job description in the job advertisement. Include matching keywords in the keyword summary section. Matching keywords in the resume will catch the reviewers attention. And might just cinch that job interview.

Text Resume Information

• Personal Information
• Keyword Summary
• Education
• Courses
• Skills
• Experience
• References

More Text Resume Tips

• Limit resume text lines to 65 characters
• Use Courier, Times New Roman Font
• Do not use any special formatting
• Have a friend to review text resume for errors
• Email resume to self to check for errors.

Resume Options

Once the resume is prepared the job seeker has several more options to consider in the job search. They might opt to:

• Send the resume to job search boards online like Monster or Hotjobs
• Send the resume to specific companies online
• Post the resume on a personal web page and send links to employers

One final note: Always backup the resume, save to disk, or on a CD. And it is also vital to keep the resume up to date.

Whether a job search is online or in the real world a resume is a primary tool to open the door to a new job opportunity. Learning to prepare a print resume and text resume (e-resume) is the key to success in the job hunt.

The copyright of the article Resume Tips in Career Advice is owned by Beverly Lee. Permission to republish Resume Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Resume Tips