Resume Writing Tips - Who Is Reading Your Resume First?
Who is going to read your resume first? This is a very important question to answer before you send your resume off.
Why? Because who is going to read your resume determines how you write your resume.
Why You Need a Computer Friendly Resume There two entities that may read your resume first-a person and a computer.
We all know that computers don't have the intelligence to handle content that is presented in a creative way.
In fact, many companies use computers to read a resume first for this very reason.
They aren't looking for creative individuals.
They are looking for someone who is qualified for the job.
Creativity is squashed from the moment of first contact.
This type of business will allow you to upload your resume as a Word or PDF document, and then seek to sort your information into its preconceived concept of where information should go.
When you review what the computer did, you get an education.
If you didn't use a simple, chronological format in your resume, most of the information turns to gibberish.
Other businesses embrace creativity.
This business is likely to ask you to submit your resume as a Word or PDF without trying to use a computer to put data into slots.
The computer may still screen for keywords, but the business leans more toward the human side of things.
Resumes for Computers Don't expect a computer to be able to hand tabs and bullets.
Some web-based jobs services do have software programs that handle tables, but you must use the tables the service has created.
If you modify the resume in any way, the program can't handle the changes.
Your best solution for a resume that will make it through a computer screening is a resume that is designed with the limitations of Notepad in mind.
This restricts your ability to format your resume, but don't despair.
There are some tricks you can use to make your resume easier to read once it gets past the computer.
For example, you may list your job title first, then the name of the employer on the next line.
Use a new line for the employer's address.
Then follow by a new line for the dates of employment.
The next detail you cannot afford to overlook is the importance of using industry specific keywords in your resume.
These keywords are programmed into the computer as a way of filtering out resumes that aren't job specific.
I have discussed how to identify your industry's keywords in detail in another article.
Here, I want to emphasize the importance of remembering there will be a human on the other side of the computer.
So be sure you spell out any acronyms the first time you use them.
Then you may use the acronym later to replace the long form.
This eliminates any confusion for the human reader.
If you are able to take advantage of the company's online resume builder, do so.
Often, these resume builders are notepad based, but sometimes they use fields instead.
If this is the case, you won't have to worry about the Notepad rules I have shared with you.
You will only have to focus on keywords and making sure you are presenting yourself as the right person for the position.
Whether the first "person" reading your resume is a computer or not, always remember that your resume will be read by a real person if it makes it past that first hurdle.
This means you want to still convey your message as effectively as possible.
Get the message across that you have valuable assets to contribute.
Focus on what you have to offer.
And the chances you will secure an interview will go up.
Why? Because who is going to read your resume determines how you write your resume.
Why You Need a Computer Friendly Resume There two entities that may read your resume first-a person and a computer.
We all know that computers don't have the intelligence to handle content that is presented in a creative way.
In fact, many companies use computers to read a resume first for this very reason.
They aren't looking for creative individuals.
They are looking for someone who is qualified for the job.
Creativity is squashed from the moment of first contact.
This type of business will allow you to upload your resume as a Word or PDF document, and then seek to sort your information into its preconceived concept of where information should go.
When you review what the computer did, you get an education.
If you didn't use a simple, chronological format in your resume, most of the information turns to gibberish.
Other businesses embrace creativity.
This business is likely to ask you to submit your resume as a Word or PDF without trying to use a computer to put data into slots.
The computer may still screen for keywords, but the business leans more toward the human side of things.
Resumes for Computers Don't expect a computer to be able to hand tabs and bullets.
Some web-based jobs services do have software programs that handle tables, but you must use the tables the service has created.
If you modify the resume in any way, the program can't handle the changes.
Your best solution for a resume that will make it through a computer screening is a resume that is designed with the limitations of Notepad in mind.
This restricts your ability to format your resume, but don't despair.
There are some tricks you can use to make your resume easier to read once it gets past the computer.
- Section Headings and Name - Use all caps.
- Addresses - Use standard capitalization.
- Job Titles and Employer Information - Use initial caps for this information.
- Formatting - Don't try to center headings.
Always leave them at the left margin.
Because you are using Notepad, the display could be messed up on different computers.
Insert two spaces above a new heading.
Insert two spaces between separate employers.
Use > orto replace bullets as these symbols are universal.
Add three to five spaces if you want to create a block effect.
For example, you may list your job title first, then the name of the employer on the next line.
Use a new line for the employer's address.
Then follow by a new line for the dates of employment.
The next detail you cannot afford to overlook is the importance of using industry specific keywords in your resume.
These keywords are programmed into the computer as a way of filtering out resumes that aren't job specific.
I have discussed how to identify your industry's keywords in detail in another article.
Here, I want to emphasize the importance of remembering there will be a human on the other side of the computer.
So be sure you spell out any acronyms the first time you use them.
Then you may use the acronym later to replace the long form.
This eliminates any confusion for the human reader.
If you are able to take advantage of the company's online resume builder, do so.
Often, these resume builders are notepad based, but sometimes they use fields instead.
If this is the case, you won't have to worry about the Notepad rules I have shared with you.
You will only have to focus on keywords and making sure you are presenting yourself as the right person for the position.
Whether the first "person" reading your resume is a computer or not, always remember that your resume will be read by a real person if it makes it past that first hurdle.
This means you want to still convey your message as effectively as possible.
Get the message across that you have valuable assets to contribute.
Focus on what you have to offer.
And the chances you will secure an interview will go up.
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