For Candidates: Resume
Prep
By using the latest
in document imaging technology, your resume can be scanned
into a computer system and kept "active" for years. The computer
can search for just about anything in your resume. You could
be qualified and considered for jobs you never thought of.
The computer can make it easier for you to be considered for
more jobs, and it keeps your resume on file so it's quicker
to update your information.
Here's how
it works.
Your resume is "imported" into the computer when it is received via email (either
as text or an attachment). This is the most efficient manner to send your information.
Or, if you mail a printed copy, your resume is scanned into the computer as
an image. Then OCR (optical character recognition) software looks at the image
to distinguish every letter and number (character) and creates a text file
(ASCII). Then software intelligence reads the text and extracts important information
about you such as your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, work history,
education, and skills.
Why is it important for you to
know this? When you prepare a resume for the computer to read,
you want it to be "scannable". A scannable resume is "clean" so
that the scanner can get a crisp image. A scannable resume
should use standard fonts so the OCR can recognize every letter.
And a scannable resume has plenty of facts for the software
intelligence to extract - the more skills and facts you provide,
the more opportunities you'll have for your skills to match
available positions.
Style
The computer can extract skills from many styles of resumes such as chronological
(list and describe up to 6 jobs in order by date), achievement (describe
achievements rather than job titles), functional (organize by skills vs.
job titles), and combinations of resume types.
The most difficult resume for
the computer to read is poor quality copy or that has an unusual
layout such as a newsletter layout, adjusted spacing, large
font, italics, graphics, lines, bullet points, type that is
too light or paper that is too dark.
Tips for Maximizing "Scannability"
- Use a font size of 12 to 14
points.
- Don't condense spacing
between letters.
- Use boldface and/or all
capital letters for section headings as long as the letters
don't touch
- Avoid fancy treatments:
italics, underline, shadows, and white letters on black
background.
- Avoid vertical and horizontal
lines, graphics, and boxes.
- Avoid two-column format
or resumes that looks like newspapers or newsletters.
- Place your name at the
top of the page on its own line (and the first text on
pages 2 and 3).
- Use standard address
format below your name.
- List each phone number
on it's own line.
- List e-mail address as
the last line in the contact information.
Content
You can use your current resume; however, once you understand what the computer
searches for, you may decide to add a few key words to increase your opportunities
for matching requirements or getting "hits".
Recruiters access the resume database
in many ways, search for your resume specifically or search
for applicants with specific experience. When searching for
specific experience, they'll search for key words, such as:
transportation, warehousing, software engineer, industrial
engineer, etc. So, make sure you describe your experience with
concrete words rather than vague descriptions.
Tips for Maximizing
Content "Hits"
- Use key words to define your
skills, experience, education, and professional affiliations.
- Describe your experience
with concrete words rather than vague descriptions. For
example, it's better to use "managed a team of software
engineers" rather than "responsible for managing, training..." Be
concise and truthful.
- Use more than one page
if necessary. The computer can easily handle multiple-page
resumes, and it uses all of the information it extracts
from your resume to determine if your skills match available
positions. It allows you to provide more information than
you would for a human reader.
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