Resume Template Download Free

Writing a Scannable Resume

Every job seeker wants his or her resume to stand out from the crowd. But achieving this goal isn?t as easy as it was several years ago. Today, you not only have to make your resume reader-friendly for humans, but you also have to tailor it so that when it?s scanned for key words and phrases, a machine likes it too. What exactly is scanning? It?s essentially a process in which employers take your hard copy resume and turn it into a computer file. If you?ve ever tried to convert a document from one computer program to another, you know how tricky it can be to get everything transferred correctly. It?s the same principal with scanning your resume; you?ve got to know some tricks to make your resume translate well. Below are some helpful hints to get you started.

? Go for the hits. Create a list of key words and phrases from the job ad that you think are important, and then make sure you include them at least once in your resume. More than once is good, especially if it makes sense to do so. It?s kind of like writing for search engine optimization: you want the computer to pick up on the fact that your resume has all of the ?ingredients? to rank it highly, but you don?t want to stuff it so full that a pair of human eyes will toss it because it doesn?t make sense.

? Format for success. If you?re certain that your resume will be scanned, you may want to consider a slightly different format. Much like with a functional resume, list your general skills and experiences at the top of your resume (those that incorporate the key words and phrases). Why? The computer will immediately be impressed. You can expand on your greatest hits later in your resume.

? Word it well. After the third time you?ve used verbs like ?managed,? ?designed,? or ?operated,? you?ll probably be looking for more creative ways of saying the same thing. That?s fine, as long as you don?t get so creative that the computer doesn?t register your task. If it?s scanning for ?managed??as in how many people you managed in your last position?and you decide to say something such as, ?I saw to the professional needs of five staff members,? the computer will skip right over it. Some sophisticated scanning systems are programmed to look for synonyms, but don?t gamble a possible career on it.

? Skip the fancy stuff. When you suspect (or know for certain) that your resume will be scanned, pass on the colored paper or decorative fonts. Use plain white paper and a basic 11- or 12-point font such as Ariel or Times New Roman. Fancier fonts may come across as unintelligible to the scanning device. Other things to skip: bold, underline, and italics?all of which will likely be ignored by the computer. Also, resist graphics, colored ink, and bullet points. Make sure all of your text is left-aligned (no centering), and as with any other kind of resume, don?t staple pages together.

? Snail mail (or e-mail) is best. The job posting may specify which means of delivery you should use, but when in doubt, use the good old U.S. Postal Service. Faxing isn?t a good idea, as it lowers the quality of the document, making it even more difficult to ensure successful scanning.

? Make sure humans will think it?s top-notch. Lastly, remember that your resume also has to impress people. Either before or after the computer scans your resume, a human will probably glance through it as well?especially if the computer gives it a thumb?s up. Tailoring your resume for today?s electronic age doesn?t give you a green light to skip the editing process. Read it through carefully several times to catch any grammatical or spelling errors, and then have a friend take a look.

Jason Kay recommends you read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service. Learn more resume and cover letter tips from JobGoRound.com.

MORE ARTICLES:

Resume Expert Launches New Online Resource and Resume Building Tools for Job Seekers
Resume and job search industry veteran, Carl Bascom, has launched a new resume writing and job search resource website at http://www.resumewinners.com Resume resources include a resume workbook series called the "You're Hired" Series.

5 Ways to Drastically Improve Your Resume in 10 Minutes of Less
Follow these quick and easy tips to build yourself a better resume in under 10 minutes flat.* Use strong, action oriented language that describes specific skills or accomplishments.

What Not To Include In Your Resume
Do you have a difficult time determining what does not go in your job resume? The rule of thumb is to only put enough information about your qualifications in your resume in order to get the employer interested enough to contact you about an interview.If the information doesn't highlight your qualifications, keep it out.

Writing a Student Resume
If you?re still in college, chances are you haven?t had the opportunity to hold down many impressive jobs in between late-night studying and late-night socializing So if you?re putting together a resume for a potential employer, you may wonder how in the world you can create something that will get you hired for that coveted internship or even a part-time job at your favorite music store

Resume Mirror Extraction Enterprise Achieves SAP® Certified Integration Status
Talent Technology RMX Enterprise integrates with SAP E-Recruiting Resume Parsing to provide advanced resume extraction capabilities.

Creating The Right Resume For The Right Job
So you?ve recently started searching for jobs in your field and have discovered an opening that matches your qualifications and career goals to a tee The only problem is that you?re not sure how to create a specific resume for this job

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips to Get You the Interview
There are many reasons why you could be in the market for a new job right now. Perhaps.

How to Write a Career Change Resume
Congratulations You?ve made the difficult yet rewarding decision to change careers

YumYumjobs.com Releases the First Video Resume Database
Not just another job posting board. This one stop resource center for restaurants, night clubs, bars and hotels located at YumYumJobs.com, allows employers and managers to streamline the hiring process and allows job seekers a more efficient way of promoting themselves. This is a first mover with an industry targeted - industry specific solution that will revolutionize how restaurants, nightclubs and hotels manage the interviewing process.

How To Write A Better Resume
Which word is more scarier to you? If someone yelled ?fire!? or if someone whispered, ?resume?? To most people, hearing the word ?resume? induces panic attacks and beads of sweat across the forehead.

Reviving Your Resume
A resume may not be who you are, but to a potential employer, it may be all they see of you and make or break your chance for your next interview. While many of us either spend long hours crafting the perfect resume (or pay someone else big bucks to do it for you) and may not want to mess with perfection, not updating your resume may cause more harm than good.

Talent Technology Releases New Version of its Market Leading Resume Extraction Technology
Updated version of resume extraction engine delivered with new customer-driven features, enhancements and improved internationalization capabilities. Product continues to set industry benchmark for features, extraction accuracy and robustness.

Resume Tips To Take You From SAHM to WAHM
When looking for a telecommuting position, it is very important to have your resume in tip-top shape. This is often the only thing that a potential employer has to base a hiring decision on since they most likely will not be interviewing you in person, your resume has to make that great first impression for you.

How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top
Many people would love to get a better job. And most of these same people have the proper training and skills to achieve this goal.

The Resume Vs. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Have you ever wondered what the differences are between a resume and curriculum vitae In college, you may have heard about them both, yet since graduating, you probably have heard less about the CV and more about the resume