5.11 Formats for Electronic Resumés
Here are four formats for the online or electronic resumé:
1. Online resumé-builder format provided on
corporate and job bank sites. With this format, the website provides you
with an online form that you fill in with your resumé data. Simplest to
use. Some of the sites ask you to copy and paste in a text version of your resumé
(see #2 below). The information is stored in an electronic data bank and
matched to current job postings.
2. Plain text format (i.e. with a ".txt"
file extension) to be used as in e-mails or as a file attachment. Sometimes
called an ASCII resumé. If you don't know how to create a "text"
version of your resumé, the online resources below will help you (i.e.
Rebecca Smith's e-resumé site).
Note that because of potential virus problems, many
companies no longer accept e-mail file attachments. However, you still need
a text version of your resumé to paste into e-mails and online application
forms. If you paste a copy of your text resumé
into the body of an e-mail message, you should introduce it with your cover
letter. The cover letter should use the same formatting rules as you use for
the text resumé. To learn more, click on the "Try this" activity
below.
3. Keyword format suitable for electronic
"scanning". Scanning technology, used by many large companies,
converts print images on paper resumés into computer-searchable text files.
These companies often have "applicant tracking systems" which look
for "keywords" in the resumé.
Keywords are usually nouns rather than verbs and are
automatically matched to the keywords of a job profile. Only resumé that
closely match the keywords in the job profile are pulled from the database
to be reviewed.
4. HTML format for the job seeker’s personal
website or for sending as a file attachment to employers. Sometimes called a
Web resumé. Currently, the Web resumé is used mostly by people looking
for work in the computer industry. However, Web resumés will likely become
more common as job seekers choose to showcase their skills and experience in
a "web portfolio."
The electronic resumé format you use to apply for jobs
will depend on where the job posting is (i.e. on an employer website or in a
job bank) and on the directions given for applying for the position.
Check out the Try This links in the right column to learn more about formats for electronic resumés.
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