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And You Thought You Only Needed One Resume!

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After discussing the basics of resume writing, let's consider other factors that will have an effect on your resume, such as the medium by which it will be presented. Different employers, agencies, and online job sites require that resumes be sent in a specific manner. For this reason, you are likely to find yourself needing more than one version of your resume.

Traditional Resume

In today's high-tech world, creating a traditional resume, meaning one that is on paper, may seem slightly outdated. Realistically though, it is very likely that even if you intend to do all of your job hunting electronically, sooner or later you will need a paper resume. Imagine sitting in an interview and noticing that your potential employer is reading a printout of your resume from an email attachment. Then imagine reaching inside your folder, pulling out a professional looking resume that has been printed on quality paper, and handing it to the interviewer. Not only is the interviewer likely to be impressed that you took the trouble to bring a paper resume with you, but he or she should also be equally impressed with the quality of the resume you present.



Writing a Scanable Resume

You spend lots of time and energy writing the perfect resume and cover letter based on the assumption that someone will read it. However, experience has proven that it is never safe to assume. Technology has impacted virtually every aspect of our lives, and job hunting is no exception. To quickly and effectively shortlist numerous resumes and build a database of potential employees, some companies are now using computerized scanning.

Through a process called optical character recognition (OCR), resumes are scanned using software that converts documents into plain text. Once processed, the computer searches these documents and selects those containing keywords such as C++, Unix, Java, and other technical keywords. The computer takes the information it has collected and builds a skills inventory list, which is stored in a database. Employers then search for certain skills and attributes by querying the database, and a list of candidates who match the criteria is generated. The benefits to an employer using this method of processing are clear. It enables companies to sift through a large number of resumes in a short time and develop a huge database of potential employees.

  • For the job hunter, automatic resume processing does have certain considerations. Many OCR programs make mistakes when reading words or special characters, such as underlining, italics, or bullets. Preparing resumes that are scanner friendly requires a slightly different approach to formatting than a standard resume. The following list contains a few tips to help make your resume ready for scanning.

  • During the scanning process, the computer searches for a list of keywords. If the computer is unable to find those keywords on your resume, your database entry will be incomplete. To work around this problem, try to pinpoint some of the keywords that are important to the position you are seeking. It is likely that the computer will be looking for specific words or acronyms that are related to specific computer skills. For example, on a database administrators resume, the words Oracle, reports, and data warehousing may be selected.

  • Fancy formatting, boxes, italics, underlining, and unusual fonts may not be clearly read by a scanner. It is best to keep your resume simple, keeping in mind that it is just for the computer's eye.

  • As a precaution, include both the acronym as well as full titles for technical terms. The computer may scan for either, and to miss out on an opportunity for such small details would be unfortunate.

  • Scanners typically like a lot of white space, so try to avoid congestion and keep the layout simple.

  • Print the resume on a quality printer. Photocopies and poor print quality may make for a poor scan. As mentioned earlier, use white paper rather than colored stock.

  • If at all possible, try running your resume through a scanner to see how it looks.

Due to the convenience for employers, companies using computers to scan resumes will become even more common than they are now. When preparing for the job hunt, it is a good idea to have a resume prepared in a normal format as well as a scanable version.

At the bottom of your resume, if space permits, you can include a variety of relevant information, such as membership in associations or non-IT related achievements.

Lastly, a word of caution on those creative urges that some professional resume writers seem to get. Looking for your first IT job can be challenging in itself. This is no time to be adventurous. Stick to the format. Do not include items such as mission statements, ideas on life, or slogans.They may work in a rare case, but they are more likely to hinder than help you. Keep in mind that you only ever hear about the rare times that these additions did make a difference and not about the many times they didn't.
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