How to prepare an electronic resume

An electronic resume is a format to send via the Internet. An electronic resume should be entered into a job bank (like the ones sponsored by employment or job search companies), or pasted into your e-mail.This format is also called Plain Text, Text File, or ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange).

Have you ever tried to copy and paste your resume only to find that it looks distorted? The electronic resume is your solution. More importantly, your electronic resume will survive a Keyword scan and make sure your resume is selected for the "view" pile. You see, when you send a resume via the Internet, a computer scan is performed and then if your resume is picked up during a Keyword search, an actual person reads it. If you don't have those Keywords -- you are invisible in cyber space! Keywords are industry buzzwords, jargon, language,skills, and phrases only known for that specific industry.

When you send a resume via the Internet, you want to be sure that it has been received and that it can be read. Therefore, you need to prepare an E-resume.

Different computers read software differently and different software read fonts

differently. For example:

*you might have different ISP (Internet Service Provider)

*You might have a PC (Personal Computer) and the receiver might have a Mac (Macintosh).

* If you send an attachment, your receiver might not have the software you used to prepare your resume and so they won't be able to open it, or worse -- it will look horrible!

* Some people are concerned about viruses sent with attachments, and so they will avoid opening them -- sometimes it is even a rule!

* An E-resume is full of keywords and will increase your chances.

These are some of the key reasons why an electronic resume is the best way to transmit a document online. It is recognized by all types of computers, it is not an attachment, and your resume will appear exactly how you planned it to.

Step #1

Create a well-written resume that will attract and impress the reader. If you need professional help, please hire our professional resume service. Make sure you include Keywords.

Step# 2

Once your resume is prepared - save it. If already saved go to step 3.

Step# 3

Save it again in plain text under a different name (so you don't lose your original copy).

For those who need a little more visual help please see below.

Everyone else familiar with saving documents in MS Word - skip to step 5.

In order to view your new file (once you have saved it in plain text), you must close the current file and open the new plain text file.

You must do this because this new file (plain text) will not open automatically.

A little visual help:

To save in plain text, click on your File menu and click save as.

Choose to save as plain text. See the pictures and instructions below.

Step 4

In order to view your new document you must close the current file (after saving in plain text). To close go to File then click Close.

Open the new plain text file you just saved by going to the File menu again. Click on File, find the new file in the directory you wisely chose to save it under and Open it.

Your new electronic resume will now appear like the one below.

Step 5

Because we have changed the font to plain text, your layout and graphics have changed.

You now must go through your entire resume and make some adjustments.

Adjustment A) Set your right margin at 2.0 so that it is compatible with e-mail sizes. To do this -- go to File and then Page

Set Up. Choose right margin 2.0. You will find that everything has changed. This is great!

Adjustment B) Make sure your name, address, phone number, and e-mail appear on one line each. I repeat, one line each.

Adjustment C) Your sentences will be disorganized with extra spaces here and there. Make sure you flush everything to

the left and you remove any unwanted spaces. CTRL + A = Highlight entire document then choose left

alignment from your formatting tool bar.

Adjustment D) Everything in its place? Make sure your sentences have ended where you wanted them to end.

In other words: go through your resume and reformat it.

Adjustment E) Make sure you have replaced bullets and graphics. Sometimes your bullets or special characters will be

converted into question marks or something like it, with no relation to your original design.

Remove these unwanted characters. You can use an * (asterisk) or CAPITALIZATION to attract attention.

Adjustment F) Highlight the entire document and change your fonts to Courier, or Courier New 12 pt.

Adjustment G) Make sure you don't have any sentences longer than 65 characters. This should have been fixed by

formatting your margins. Too be sure -- use your Word Count tool under Tools.

True that e-resumes are not as attractive as presentation resumes. But, this is the best format for transmitting resumes through e-mail and job banks. You can always bring the more attractive version to your interview.

Remember that while you now have an electronic resume- it is very important that your resume be well written as well. Go to CareerStop for tips on how to write a resume with power or hire

Creating Prints. Our rates are reasonable and we will teach you how to update your resume for future use.We will also create an electronic version of your resume free!

Every time you need to use your electronic resume, access it via your Note Pad software. Before you get ready to use this resume, go ahead and open it via your Notepad program and make sure it is formatted well. Confirm all the steps above via the Notepad view.

Notepad comes with most computer platforms and can be accessed via your start menu.

If you cannot locate Notepad, then open it directly. Try to avoid opening your e-resume in Word after you have saved the new format changes, unless you are willing to reformat.

Now practice e-mailing it to yourself!