Tips for Electronic Resume Creation

In days past resumes were typically submitted in a paper form to potential employers. Times have changed and now most employers will ask you to submit your resume electronically. This will require you to learn how to create an electronic resume. The process is very similar to creating a traditional resume with a few minor changes. It is also important to remember that your resume will need to be written for both human readers and

computer scanners since they may have to undergo a scanning process before they ever are seen by a human.

Keywords and Computer Scanning

Many businesses are using scanning technology to review potential resumes for keywords before they are reviewed by the hiring manager. This means that you need to spend a little time thinking about the keywords that they may be searching for so that you can integrate them into your resume. You may be able to identify some keywords from the job posting or from trade magazines and websites.

Use the Right Format

Traditional resumes may be created and saved using Microsoft Word and saved in a.Doc format. This is great for printed resumes, but it isn't an ideal choice for an electronic resume. You will have an option to save your file as a text file or .Txt. This type of file format isn't beautiful to look at but it is the format for your electronic resume since it is easy to open and use by potential employers. Files saved as a text file will be pretty plain, but there are some important formatting considerations to keep in mind as you create your electronic resume.

Block Formatting - Use a left justification or block formatting throughout the entire resume. This is an important formatting consideration to use as you create your resume.

Font Size and Style - Don't get overly fancy with your font, but don't go too plain either. A great font for an electronic resume is either Courier or Times New Roman. Use a font size between 10 and 12 pts. Make sure that it is easy to read and the font size isn't too small.

Keep It Simple - Your resume should be pretty simple when its in its electronic format. Don't use bold or italics and avoid using any colors. If you do need to draw attention to a word or phrase use capital letters, but this should be done rarely.

Don't Forget the Keywords - Keywords are critical so make sure that you integrate them into your resume. This may take a little creativity, but find a way to integrate them in while still ensuring that your resume is readable.

Check Before Sending - Once you have a great electronic resume try it out on yourself to make sure that it will email properly. Email it yourself and check the formatting before you submit it to any potential employers. As with any resume proofreading is important, so consider having someone else read over your resume.

Being able to create an electronic resume is an important skill for landing a job in the modern job market. These skills will help you to create a resume that will impress potential employers and find a great new job.

There is now software to help you create a great electronic resume. Read resume software reviews to learn more about these software packages and how they can help you create a stunning resume.