Create your electronic resume

Many assume that an electronic resume is the same as a normal resume, just on the computer. In some ways, this is true; basic resume writing guidelines apply to electronic resumes.

There are, however, some significant differences. Traditional printed resumes are usually manually read and sorted by a person. Often, electronic resumes are selected by searches using keywords. It is important to use nouns, keywords, and industry jargon in order to attract the search program's attention. Ask yourself: What characteristics required for the job? Education? Experience? Skills? The more keywords you have, the more likely your resume will get selected.

A new phrase in the job market is "scannable." Your electronic resume must be scannable. Employers, working with a large number of resumes, have turned to Electronic Applicant Tracking Systems that use imaging technology to scan, organize, store and retrieve resumes in an internal database. Because of this, aesthetic flourishes must be removed - no graphics, fancy fonts, or formatting. Try to avoid bold, italics, underline, or borders. In addition, use asterisks instead of bullets. This may seem restrictive and it may not look terribly appealing, but it will make it easier for employers to view your resume clearly.

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