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Scannable Resumes
Resumes | Creating Resume | Samples | Scannable Resumes | Cover Letters | References | Other Letters | Resources
Tips for preparing a resume to be scanned:
- Resumes are searched for “key words” that the computer has been programmed to find. Action verbs are not useful during the scan, but they should be included for when the employer reads the resume. You must be sure to include “key words” that are important in your field.
- “Key words” may include your degree, job titles, number of years of experience, specific tasks required for your job, professional associations, etc. For example key words for an accountant might include BS in Accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, CPA, etc.
- Simplicity in your resume is needed:
- Your name should be the first readable item on each page, on its own line
- Use non-decorative typefaces, 11-14 point in size
- Use cream or gray paper of standard size and provide laser-printed original
- Avoid italics, script, bold, and underlined passages (use capitalization instead)
- Do not compress spaces between letters
- Do not use horizontal or vertical lines (including underlining), or bullets, boxes, etc.
- Do not fold or staple your resume. Place the resume and cover letter in a flat envelope and paper clip them together.
- List each phone number on its own line (for example, a work phone and home phone)
(Most word processors and resume-writing programs will let you save a file to plain text, also called ASCII or DOS text. Do not use word-processed or PostScript files.)
- After creating your resume and checking for errors, print a copy of the resume and then make a copy of the computer file. Name it resume.txt, and tell the program to save this to plain text.
- Using any text editor, even your word processor, edit the resume.txt file to resemble your printed resume. Redo the spacing using the space bar, and add some unique characters to highlight your skills, etc., just like you did before. Remember that you may need to alter the margins for the e-mail. Figure no more than 70 characters across the screen. Save this copy as text.
- Save both copies of the files on a diskette.
- Send your resume to yourself or a friend to see how it looks when it is received. Do not send the resume as an attachment; send it as the body of your message.
- Do not use bolds, underlines, or bullets. Suggestions for options:
- use asterisks (*) or plus (+) signs instead of bullets
- use capital letters or asterisks to surround the text instead of using bold
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