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Why should you go through the added effort of preparing
an Internet resume?
- It's the fastest way to contact a potential employer
or networking contact. Many companies are soliciting resumes via
email.
- The companies want the resume in plain text. They
frequently specify "a plain text document sent in the body of the
message."
A few things to keep in mind if you are sending
your resume to someone via email.
- Always send text in the message and then ask if they
would like a printed copy for their records. Never assume you can attach
a word-processed document to an email message.
- Unless otherwise instructed, include a cover letter
and be sure to note why you are contacting this person.
- Send the resume and cover letter in one email message.
- If responding to an ad or job posting, use the job
title and/or noted reference number as the Subject of your message.
WARNING: Some positions advertise on-line but do not
accept resumes via electronic mail! Read the instructions and follow
them accordingly!
__________________________
Preparing Your Resume for the Internet
This is not difficult. Most word processors and resume-writing
programs will let you save a file to plain text, sometimes called ASCII,
Text Only, or DOS text. Any one of these will work.
- Create your resume with the formatting and display
style recommended by the people helping you or the guides you are
reading. Check it for spelling and grammar, and read it over carefully
to be sure you catch any mistakes the computer didn't.
-
- 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 text only
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- Using any text editor, edit the resume.txt file
to resemble your printed resume. Notepad for Windows and Appletext
for Macintosh are examples of text editors. 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 a bit for the email. Count no more than 65 characters
across the screen. (Yes, you may have to sit there and count each
letter and space to 65.) Save this copy as text!
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- Save all copies of the files on a diskette.
Keep that resume ready to edit, print, or email on demand.
Once you have redone your resume in the text format,
mail it to yourself or to a friend to see how it looks after being mailed.
This will help you identify any more formatting problems before you
start sending it out to possible employers.
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