CareerBuilder Find Jobs My CareerBuilder Work & Life Tools & Advice Employers


Creating an effective cyber resume

Book Notes

By Mary B. Nemnich and Fred E. Jandt

Excerpt from Cyberspace Resume Kit: How to Build and Launch an Online Resume, 2001, from JIST Publishing.

New technology has drastically and forever changed the way people find and apply for jobs. Instead of scouring the classified ads in the newspaper, people now find the best jobs on the Internet — on job bank sites, corporate Web pages and newsgroups. And instead of snail-mailing resumes to employers, many job seekers zap their credentials into employers' hands within minutes of learning of an opening, or post them on resume bank sites that employers search for matches.

So, to find good jobs fast and keep up with everyone else, it's important that you

  • Create an electronic resume for use on the Internet
  • Use e-mail to send your resume to potential employers
  • Post and distribute your resume to resume banks and databases

Your paper resume, or presentation resume, was just what you needed prior to the emergence of the Internet. Presentation resumes still serve a purpose in a job search, but in today, job seekers need an electronic resume as well.

As with presentation resumes, there are key elements to an electronic resume, and these elements should be arranged in a certain order for the information to be effective. You will most likely be preparing two types of electronic resumes: scannable resumes and HTML resumes.

A scannable resume is one that has been prepared and saved as a plain-text document so it can be scanned directly into an employer's database. This requires special scanning software such as OCR (optical character recognition). Scanning is also used by several companies such as Resumix (an automated staffing and resume-tracking company).

A scannable resume contains no special formatting, like enhanced fonts or graphics. It is actually written initially for a computer rather than a person. But at some point it will still be read by a person, so it is important to write a cohesive, organized resume that will succeed whether it is read by a computer or a human being.

Scannable resume tips

To prepare a resume for OCR, consider these suggestions:

  • Keep the layout simple.
  • Use simple fonts.
  • Make sure your copy is clean.
  • Use high-quality paper.
  • Send originals whenever possible.
  • Use a high-quality photocopier for reproductions.

Resumix suggests the following tips for creating a resume that will get the maximum number of hits:

  • Use keywords to define your skills, experience, education, professional affiliations, and so on.
  • Use concrete words, rather than vague descriptions to describe your experience. For example, use "managed a team of software engineers" rather than "responsible for managing and training."
  • Be concise and truthful.
  • Use more than one page if necessary.
  • Use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry (spell out the acronyms for a human reader).
  • Increase your list of keywords by including specifics. For example, list the names of software that you use, such as Microsoft Word.
  • Use common headings, such as Objective, Experience, Work History, Skills, Education, Professional Affiliations, Licenses and References.
  • Describe your interpersonal traits and attitude. Keywords can include dependable, high energy, leadership, sense of responsibility and good memory.

HTML resumes are resumes on the World Wide Web that use multimedia elements, including graphics, animation, and links. An HTML resume gives you more control of the content and form of your resume and provides two benefits:

  • Great flexibility in the presentation of your resume, including fonts, tables, graphics, shading, and color.
  • An increase in potential exposure. If you've indexed an HTML resume in the major Internet search engines, anyone can find your resume by searching your keywords.

HTML Resume Tips

1. Skip the picture. A poor photo can give an employer a bad impression.

2. Don't overdo the links. Use a few, but remember that links take the reader away from your resume.

3. Use colors with care. Backgrounds that are too busy or dark may obscure parts of your text.

4. Choose appropriate graphics. Select graphics that are tasteful and reflect your professionalism.

5. Insert a counter. This device records the number of times your resume has been viewed.

6. Convert your resume to a PDF file. PDF files preserve all fonts, formatting choices, and layout. This ensures your document will appear online just as it did when you first built it.

About JIST Publishing

JIST Publishing is an Indianapolis-based publisher and authority on the topics of career, job search, business and families in crisis. The JIST staff help people help themselves in career and life by publishing practical, self-directed products and training tools that are used in employment training, education, business, counseling, therapy and school settings.

From Cyberspace Resume Kit: How to Build and Launch an Online Resume, 2001 Edition, by Mary B. Nemnich and Fred E. Jandt, © 2001. Used with permission of JIST Publishing, Indianapolis, Ind.

.