Resume Advice
A collection of 181 posts
How to Include Study Abroad on a Resume
One of the most influential things on your resume could be studying abroad. It can be for as little as a semester, or as long as a year or more. No matter the duration, listing your studying abroad can be a great asset to your resume. It shows that you have the guts to take a risk and that you are interested in other cultures. Of course, there is no way to summarize your whole experience in a few short bullet points. But don’t even consider leaving it out of your resume. When the HR managers see you have studied abroad, they will be all over you. The difficult part of listing your studying abroad is how to do it right. But that’s why we’re here. In this article, we are going to learn: Why should you include your study abroad on your resume?Where should you list your study abroad on your resume?How to list study abroad on your resume? And after we are done with the why, where and how, we are going to leave you off with some great examples of everything we have covered. If your studying abroad is not the only thing about your resume that worries you, we’ve got you covered with another great article - How to Make Your Resume Stand Out. But if you are hard on learning how to include your study abroad on your resume, stick around. Why should you include your study abroad on your resume? The main reasons for including your study abroad on your resume are that you are either a recent college graduate or your experience is highly relevant to the job position. But there are actually more important perks to that. And we are going to go through the most significant ones. Sets you one step ahead of other candidatesHiring managers have very limited time to spend on a resume.There are hundreds of resumes going through them on a daily basis.Listing something unique about you can catch their attention and improve your chances of getting your interview.And one of the best things to list here is study abroad.Explains limited job experienceBeing a recent college graduate would not mean that your potential employer is not looking for work experience.Many college students work while studying, and that really helps them get a job after graduation as well.But by including study abroad in your resume, you both explain your limited job experience, and show something unique about you.Shows off your skillsStudy abroad shows your potential employer that you are willing to take a risk.But more importantly, it shows them that you are independent enough to learn in a new environment.That most probably means that you are independent at work as well.It also shows that you are open-minded and collaborative, as you had to work with people with different backgrounds from yours.On the other hand, if you have plenty of relevant work experience, you probably don’t need your study abroad on your resume.But in any other case, don’t miss out on shining a light on that.Where should you list your study abroad on your resume?Before figuring out the placement, you need to think about what you want to include on your resume.Take a stroll down memory lane and think about your study abroad.List anything you can think of that seems relevant.Think about what you learned, the people you met and the places you visited.Don’t forget about the skills you developed and the interests you have taken on.When you are done with your list, go through it and see which items are relevant to the job position you are applying for.Once you have the relevant items from your study abroad, it’s time to think about where to list them on your resume.There are three main options.You can list your study abroad in your:Education SectionWork Experience SectionSkills SectionOther less used options are listing it in your Resume Objective or in an additional section of your resume.Depending on what you chose, you should also consider the three main resume formats in order to get the best out of it:Reverse Chronological Resume Format (Focused mainly on your work experience)Functional Resume Format (Focused mainly on your skill set)Hybrid Resume Format (A combination of the other two resume formats)How to list study abroad on your resume?So far, so good.The first hard step is done, you know where you want to place your study abroad on your resume.But we have the biggest challenge ahead - how to list it?Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with each of the three main placements.In Your Education SectionListing your study abroad in your Education Section is the most typical way to go.What you want to do here is draw attention to your education, so that your study abroad would be well noted.The degree on which you would want to do that depends on your work experience.If you have plenty of experience, you would not want to clutter your resume with your education.In that case it would be more than enough to just mention your study abroad with the institution’s name, years of studying there and the degree you earned.But if you are a recent college graduate, you would want the attention to be mainly on your Education Section.That’s why you should swap your sections and make your education section the first under your Resume Header and Contact Information.Don’t forget that you can expand your education section as much as you want.And that’s exactly what you would want to do here.You can include:Relevant Coursework and ProjectsDean's ListGPAIn Your Work Experience SectionListing your study abroad in your Work Experience Section is a great way to go.But on one condition - you should have successfully managed to study and work at the same time.Also keep in mind that you should stick to Internships and Volunteer Work on that occasion.Apart from that, there is nothing really specific.You need to list it just like you would list any past job:The name of each employerTheir locationThe title of your roleA few bullet points.Don’t forget to list them in reverse chronological order.That’s a great way to stick out in front of other candidates and show your potential employer that you didn’t spend all your time abroad partying.In Your Skills SectionAnother place you can list your study abroad is in your Skills Section through the skills you’ve gained.Think about all the soft, hard and technical skills you gained while abroad and list those which seem relevant.If you learned a new language there, don’t miss out on including it along with your proficiency level.Any specific job skills you have picked up while studying abroad would be a great asset to your resume.Just remember to make them relevant to the job position you are applying for.Where else to mention your study abroad?While you may decide to include your study abroad only on your resume, you can get even more out of it.Including it in just two more places can greatly improve your chances.Including it in Your Cover LetterYour Cover Letter is the second most important document in your job hunt.So why not put your study abroad in the spotlight one more time.It is especially essential to do so if you are a recent college graduate and don't have much experience yet.You can share with your potential employer once again your experience abroad and all the skills you have gained, including the languages you have picked up.Just remember - make it relevant to the job position you are applying for.Updating Your LinkedIn ProfileOne thing you should never ignore is updating your LinkedIn profile with anything relevant.Consider your profile’s education, experience and volunteer section for good potential spots for your abroad experiences.Don’t forget to add some bullet points to emphasize on your accomplishments and the skills you gained.Consider updating your description so that you emphasize on your study abroad once again, and make sure you include any languages you learned in the correct fields.Examples of Including Study Abroad on ResumeAs we promised, we are not going to leave you without examples of everything we talked about.So let’s get started and show you how to include your study abroad in every appropriate section.In Your Education SectionWhen using your Education Section to list your study abroad, you can use this simple template:[INSTITUTION NAME] | [CITY/COUNTRY][DEGREE EARNED] | [DATE]Relevant Coursework: [RELEVANT COURSEWORK AND PROJECTS LIST]Honors: [HONORS LIST]GPA: [GPA]You can also include anything else that seems relevant, but that should do nicely.In order to get a deeper understanding of the template, we’ve got an example for you as well:University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PAComputer Engineering | June 2018Relevant Coursework: Computer Sciences, Software EngineeringHonors: Dean's List 2017-2018GPA: 3.9In Your Work Experience SectionAs we mentioned earlier, including your study abroad in your Work Experience Section is like listing any past job.The model should be pretty clear to you, but we are going to go through it once again, just in case:[COMPANY NAME] | [CITY/COUNTRY][JOB POSITION] | [DATES][ACCOMPLISHMENTS]And just that we are sure there is no misunderstanding, here is one great example:Google | Mountain View, CaliforniaIT Intern | May 2017 - May 2018Any accomplishment you haveAny accomplishment you haveAny accomplishment you haveIn Your Skills SectionFinally, the last place you could include your study abroad on your resume - your Skills Section.You can include them like any other skill.So, for example:Languages: Fluent in Italian and Spanish, Advanced in GermanComputer Skills: Windows and Linux operating systems, Git, Visual Studio CodeProgramming Skills: C#, C++, Java, Python, RubyInterests: International travel, learning about new cultures, photojournalismTakeaways: How to include study abroad on your resume?We are all done.Now you know how to include study abroad on your resume.You are now ready to get the hiring manager’s attention and really show off what you learned abroad.Don’t forget - pick the right resume layout according to the section you include your study abroad in.Check out our examples once again and make your promotions get you your next interview in no time.
How to Write a Career Change Resume Summary With Examples
You’ve spent years developing your skills and perfecting your craft. You’ve built a career in your industry, but now it’s time for a change. Whether it’s because you’re ready to move on to the next level or just want something different, deciding to take the leap on a career change can be scary. Your resume is going to be up against countless qualified candidates, how will you stand out when you’re new to the field? A strong career change resume summary is important. It can show recruiters why you deserve a chance, even if you haven’t been in the business that long. In this article, we’ll cover: Why a strong resume summary is so important Career change resume summary examples Key takeaways for writing a great career change resume summary When you’re ready to dive into writing your career change resume, use our resume builder to get started. The importance of a strong resume summary Before you start writing your resume summary, it’s necessary to understand its purpose. You might think your resume doesn’t need a summary, but it can make a big difference in your impact on recruiters. What is the purpose of a resume summary? Your resume summary is the first thing recruiters see following your header. It is your first opportunity to showcase your value in the industry and a bit of your personality. Summaries put specific career highlights and accomplishments on display. They help you make maximum impact in minimal time. This can be especially valuable when making a career change. You want to let recruiters know right away that you’re a strong candidate, even if your experience is lacking. How to format a resume summary Like every section of your resume, your summary needs to be clear and concise. Recruiters have stacks of resumes to review. Don’t waste time and get to the point quickly. Your summary should be no more than 3-5 sentences. Cover the most important and most relevant information. A good formula to use when writing your summary is the following: Introduce your role > State your greatest accomplishment > Show that you’re the right fit for the role. For more specifics on everything that goes into a good resume summary, check out our detailed summary guide and collection of examples. Including a career change in your summary The formula above may be simple enough when you’ve got extensive experience on your side, but what about when you’re making a career change? How can you introduce the idea of a career change in your summary without losing the interest of recruiters? The key to a strong career change summary - and an entire career change resume - is focusing on transferable skills. Where is the overlap between your current position and your desired job? What skills do you have that are relevant to your target role? Even if you don’t have experience in the specific field, hiring managers should be able to see what you will accomplish at their company. Career change resume summary examples Now that you have an idea of what goes into a career change resume summary, let’s take a look at some examples. The summaries below capture some of the most common career changes in different industries. Use them as inspiration when you’re ready to write your summary. Project manager to product manager In the example above, the candidate highlighted management experience in their work history and desired role. They also shared an accomplishment that is relevant to both project management and product management. The focus of the summary is on transferable skills and relevant achievements rather than specific job titles. Product manager to product consultant This example shows a different kind of career change. After building a long career in a particular area, you may decide to step out on your own. For a career change summary from employee to consultant, focus on your accomplishments and the expertise you can share. Sports journalist to celebrity journalist This candidate is making a change to a different niche within their industry. Like any other summary, focus on transferable skills and what you will bring to the company. In this example, the candidate focuses on reporting and viewership rather than subject knowledge. Let’s look at a few more examples. Project manager to COOGraphic Designer to Ux DesignerWeb Developer to Technical WriterSoftware Engineer to Ux DesignerData Scientist to Software EngineerProduct Manager to Sales ManagerMarketing to AdvertisingDirector to Vice PresidentManager to DirectorCOO to CEOFinal thoughts on creating a strong career change resume summary Take the time to include a summary when writing a career change resume. Let recruiters know right away why you’re a strong candidate. Keep your summary clear and concise. In 3-5 sentences, introduce yourself, highlight an accomplishment, and explain why you’re the right fit for the role. Focus on transferable skills and relevant accomplishments. Show hiring managers what you will achieve at their company. Add a career change summary to your resume and get ready to start applying to jobs!
Should You and How To Include Phone Number on Your Resume
Contact information is one of the most basic elements of a resume. It’s a given that hiring managers need a way to contact you if they’re going to offer you a job. Don’t let the simplicity of your resume header fool you. There’s still a lot to consider. The decision of whether or not to include a phone number on a resume can cause uncertainty. For career professionals, phone communication might be the industry standard. For young newcomers, it can seem archaic. Including your phone number on your resume - even in today’s technology era - is important. This article will answer the following questions about including a phone number on your resume: What are the benefits? What factors should you consider? What are some common mistakes to avoid? What are some best practices for phone communication? If you’re looking for more ideas on how to include a phone number on your resume, browse our collection of resume examples for inspiration. What are the benefits of including a phone number on your resume? The first answer to this question is an obvious one. Phone numbers provide a quick and direct line of communication between you and a potential employer. If they’re looking to fill a position fast, you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because an email sat unread in your inbox all day. Answering a phone call saves a lot of time. Another benefit of including your phone number on a resume is the convenience it creates for scheduling interviews. Hiring managers are busy. They could be trying to pack multiple candidate interviews into a small window of time. If you rely on the back-and-forth communication of an email while other candidates book their interviews over the phone, you might miss your chance on a prime time slot. Lastly, adding a phone number to your resume shows professionalism and readiness to be contacted. You do want potential employers to contact you, right? Of course you do! Imagine the message it sends if your resume doesn’t give hiring managers an easy way to reach you. You might seem uninterested in the job or unprepared for a professional environment if employers have to jump through hoops just to get in touch with you. Factors to consider when including a phone number on your resume A common concern about including your phone number on your resume is privacy and security. This is understandable. No one wants their personal contact information floating out in cyberspace on an unprotected PDF. Safeguard your information by being mindful of where and how you share your resume. Be sure the online job boards you’re using are legitimate. Don’t submit your resume to any job listing that looks suspicious or unsafe. Keep these practices in mind when choosing other contact details for your resume like your address. Another factor to consider is choosing what phone number to include. If you have a separate line for work calls and personal calls, that makes it an easy decision. However, this is impractical for most people. Whatever you do, don’t use your current work phone number! It might be tempting, but there are too many variables for things to go sideways. Imagine the fallout of a potential employer leaving you a voicemail and your current boss finding out you’re applying elsewhere. Or you might leave your current job before hearing back from a hiring manager and then their call goes to a disconnected number. The best practice is to use your personal cell phone number so you can be contacted directly. The last factor to consider is format and presentation. As always, keep it simple and professional. Include your phone number in a clear, concise resume header using one of the following formats or something similar: 555-555-5555 (555) 555-5555 555.555.5555 Here are a few examples of how these phone number formats look in a resume header. If you’re applying to jobs internationally, be sure to include your country code as well. More on that below. Use our resume builder to help you format your resume and organize your information easily. Common mistakes to avoid when including a phone number on your resume It should go without saying that your contact information needs to be correct and up-to-date. You don’t want to spend all your time and energy perfecting the details of your resume just to make a mistake in your phone number. Check, double-check, and triple-check your contact information prior to sending out your resume. If you’re using your personal cell phone number to apply for jobs, make sure you have a professional outgoing voicemail message. You want hiring managers to know that you’re taking the process seriously. Another common mistake to avoid is overlooking international format requirements. Let’s take a look at an example. For a local position, this header is great. However, the phone number format in the example above can cause problems in an international job search. Don’t assume hiring managers will know your country code by looking at your location. Make it simple and include it in the format. Let’s look at the same example with the country code added. That tiny change is almost unnoticeable, but it makes a huge difference. Be sure to use the correct phone number format and country code or potential employers abroad may not be able to get through when they call you. Best practices for phone communication during the job search process Including your phone number on your resume is only the first step of the process. Then, ideally, potential employers are going to use it. This stage in the process can be intimidating. Don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to help. The best way to combat nerves around phone communication is by being fully prepared. Be professional when you answer the phone The first thing you want to be mindful of while you’re looking for a job is to answer the phone professionally. Always. You might be accustomed to answering your personal phone with a casual greeting to family and friends. When a hiring manager calls, you probably won’t recognize the number. Don’t be caught off guard. Answer the phone with a professional greeting every time it rings. It’s a good habit to develop and will make a good first impression on potential employers. Be prepared for phone interviews The next thing you want to focus on is preparing for phone interviews. Picture the following scenario: You include your phone number in a beautifully crafted resume header. You get a call from an interested employer. Hooray! You schedule a phone interview and then… you freeze. Don’t lay all this groundwork without seeing it through to the end. If you’re giving a company your phone number, you should be prepared to speak with them over the phone. Start by preparing yourself like you would any other interview. Practice your responses to common interview questions like these: Tell us about yourself Why do you want to work here? Why are you the right fit for this role? What is your greatest strength? What is your biggest weakness? Where do you see yourself in five years? There are a few things you get with an in-person interview that you don’t over the phone. They’re important to keep in mind. The interviewer can’t see you, so they won’t be able to read your body language. Be clear and attentive as you can’t rely on gestures like head nods and eye contact. Be polite and professional. You can’t shake hands over the phone. Some additional advice includes using a clear line and finding a quiet space to take calls. Having a spotty connection or loud noise in the background can be very distracting for both you and the interviewer. Prepare the space ahead of time. Have your resume and the job description in front of you. Be ready to take notes and ask questions. If you’re in the middle of a job search and need some guidance on the process, try exploring our career counseling services. You can practice a mock interview and receive feedback to help you feel confident and prepared. Follow up with the interviewers Finally, make sure to follow up with the hiring manager after the phone interview. Before you end the call, make sure you understand the next steps in the process. Some companies will tell you they’ll make a decision and let you know within X number of days. Others might have a different process like updating an internet portal. Either way, be sure to write a thank you email to the interviewers after the call. They could be interviewing a dozen candidates with qualifications and experience just like yours. A personal thank you can be the factor that puts you ahead. This small gesture will reassure them of your interest in the position and showcase your professional etiquette. Now you’re one step closer to landing that offer! Key takeaways for including a phone number on your resume Contact information might seem pretty black and white at first glance, but there are a lot of factors to consider. Including a phone number on your resume is a key piece of information that will push your job search in the right direction. As you prepare to add a phone number to your resume, keep the following in mind: Benefits include providing a quick line of communication for potential employers, conveniently scheduling phone interviews, and showing your professionalism Be sure to take privacy and safety measures when sharing your information, never use a work phone number on your resume, and make sure the format is clear and professional Avoid mistakes like using outdated contact information or overlooking international format requirements Always answer the phone professionally, be prepared for phone interviews, and remember to follow up with the interviewer.
The Different Ways of Submitting a Resume
You’ve put in the work. You wrote an incredible resume that will impress recruiters and hiring managers alike. Congratulations! Now it’s time for the scary part. Submitting that resume and landing a job. There is a plethora of ways to submit a resume, especially in today’s technological world. Factors like your industry and access can help determine which avenue is right for you. It’s good practice to be prepared for all of them. You never know when an opportunity to submit your resume might come up. In this article, we’ll cover how to submit a resume in the following ways: Email In person Networking at conferences Paper resume Online forms and job boards Before you start sending out your resume, make sure it’s the best it can be by using our resume builder. Submitting a resume via email Applying for a job by emailing your resume to companies can be intimidating. You read and re-read the email a dozen times. You check and double-check that the files have been attached successfully. Then you hit send and hope for the best. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to ensure best practices and boost your confidence. How to do submit your resume The first step is to follow directions. That may sound obvious, but a startling number of people don’t do it. Carefully read the job listing for which you’re applying. There will typically be instructions toward the bottom on the next steps. Most likely a link to an online form or information on where to send an email. Follow the directions closely. Address the email, name the subject, and format your files exactly as they say. Not being able to follow simple directions doesn’t give a great first impression. Attach the file in PDF format unless specifically directed otherwise. If the job listing doesn’t state the name of a person, address it to the hiring manager. This might take a bit of research. If you can’t find a name, address your email to the department manager using the following format: What to say when you submit your resume The body of your email should be brief and professional. Simply introduce yourself, explain the purpose of your email, and write a brief career summary. Refer back to the job listing. Some companies will request that you use the body of your email as your cover letter. If there is no specific ask, keep it simple. We’ve made it easy for you and created a template you can use when submitting your resume. Fill in the template above with your own information and feel confident submitting your resume. For more detail on the subject, check out our article on emailing your resume to employers. Submitting a resume in person For those just entering the workforce in today’s climate, submitting a resume in person may seem fairly archaic. It’s true, much of the job search and application process has shifted to the virtual world in recent years. However, there are some situations that are better suited for an in-person approach. There are many variables that determine whether or not submitting an in-person resume is the right thing to do, but here are a few possibilities: Small businesses Service jobs Entry-level positions Specialized services (Example: asking a local business if they’re interested in hiring outside vendors to sell products in their store) Before you go marching into an establishment with your resume, it’s important to take a few things into consideration and plan ahead. What to do when you submit a resume in person Once you’ve got your sights set on a particular business, see if they already have a job listing. Is there a ‘hiring’ sign in the window? Are they listed on an online job board? Have they posted about job openings on their website or social media? If there is a listing for an open position, read it carefully. As mentioned earlier in the post, make sure you are following directions. A larger number of people will be filtered out by ignoring application instructions. Some businesses may explicitly state that they do not accept in-person applications. Others may require one. Don’t try to be the exception. Just follow the rules. If they do accept in-person resume submissions, plan your visit. It’s important to be mindful of when to go, who to talk to, and what to say. The right time to go varies by industry. You want to deliver your resume when the staff isn’t overwhelmed and the manager is available to speak with you. For a quiet mom-and-pop boutique, day and time might not be a huge factor. For a restaurant, avoid busy times like weekends and the dinner rush. Always ask to speak with the manager directly. It’s best to go straight to the source. It shows initiative and the manager will be able to get a first impression of you before they read your resume. If the manager is unavailable, ask the staff for a better time to return. They might instead offer to take your resume and pass it along. This is fine, just be sure to follow up with the manager later. Regardless of who you speak with, keep it brief, polite, and professional. You are potentially interrupting their work day. You want to respect their time and willingness to meet with you. Introduce yourself, state the position you’re applying for, and provide a very short synopsis of your qualifications. One of the major differences between in-person and virtual resume posting is that face-to-face interactions include body language. Stand tall with a straight posture. Look everyone in the eye and smile politely. Dress appropriately for the industry and setting. Be prepared to answer questions. Don’t come this far just to choke on a basic question. They probably won’t put you through a whole interview, but do some general preparation just in case. Rehearse your responses to some common interview questions like why do you want to work here? Why are you the right fit for this role? What strengths would you bring to this company? Before you leave, end with the next steps. Ask for the manager’s contact info and find out their timeline for filling the position. Be sure to thank them for their time and follow up later. Benefits of applying in person There are a few advantages to submitting your resume in person as opposed to online. Going to a company’s physical location and interacting with the staff allows for first impressions in both directions. It allows them to see how you fit into their environment and allows you to see if it is really the right fit for you. Even if it’s a business you’ve been to countless times before, you might get a different impression after talking to staff and management about working there. You might discover that it’s not what you expected and decide you don’t actually want to work there. This is an opportunity you don’t get by sending your resume electronically. Another benefit of submitting your resume in person is that it shows initiative and eagerness to work. Anyone can click a button and send a file from the safety of the other side of a computer screen. Going in person shows that you’re serious about the role and willing to put yourself out there. This is a good quality for fast-paced roles with a high turnover like the restaurant industry. If the hiring manager sees that you can show up on time and are capable of the physical demands of the job, then you’re one step closer to getting hired. Submitting your resume in person can also help to expedite the hiring process for small businesses. Busy floor managers may not have the time to sit down and sift through resumes at a computer. Going straight to the in-person meeting speeds things up. Submitting a resume when networking at conferences For some, networking at conferences is where they thrive. For those more comfortable behind a desk, it can be scary. Knowing when and how to submit a resume while networking is one of the more tricky aspects. The process starts before you even arrive at the conference or career fair. The first thing you want to do is research the conference ahead of time. Find out the format, opportunities to network, other companies you want to network with, etc. The other crucial step to take ahead of the conference is to make sure that your online resume is in order. Odds are that the majority of your resume distribution at networking events will be by way of directing others to your LinkedIn profile or another online resume. Make sure that all your information is up-to-date and accurate. You don’t know when recruiters are going to look at it and you don’t want to be updating it in the middle of the conference. When to submit your resume at a conference Depending on the format of the event, there may be situations that are set up specifically to collect resumes. At other times, a recruiter or company representative may ask for it while networking. Do not hand someone a physical resume unsolicited! It’s generally a bad idea to just hand someone your resume if they didn’t ask for it. Hiring managers have a system for how they collect and review resumes. Now you’ve interrupted it and are making them do extra work. They have to keep track of your paper resume among all their other responsibilities at the conference. It’s far better to submit it to them in the manner requested. Not to mention, forcing your resume on anyone who will take it shows desperation and a lack of business acumen. The whole point of networking is to make a good impression. Do print out multiple copies of your resume so that you’re prepared if someone does ask, but keep them in a folder for yourself unless it comes up. A more likely scenario is that you will find yourself speaking with an interested recruiter and they will ask for your contact information. This is when you hand them your business card which contains a link to your online resume. Don’t forget to follow up after the conference. When to use a paper resume This article has already covered some of the most common situations that call for a paper resume. To recap, having a paper resume is useful for Submitting a resume in person to local businesses Distributing your resume at networking events when asked If job listing directions require one Additionally, bringing a printed resume to an interview is good practice. Having a paper resume on-hand during an interview is wise for a few reasons. First and foremost, it shows preparedness and professionalism. Hiring managers might be interviewing several candidates a day and don’t have your resume in front of them for your interview. Providing another copy for their reference makes it easier for them. It’s also useful for your own reference. The interviewer might ask a specific question you can’t recall on the spot, like how many years you were at a previous job. It’s much better to look at your resume and give the correct answer than guess and get it wrong. Other electronic resume formats There are other ways of submitting your resume online than simply attaching it to an email. Electronic resume posting comes in a number of ways and it’s good to be prepared for all of them. LinkedIn profile This article briefly touched on distributing your LinkedIn URL above. A great deal of networking happens right on LinkedIn. Your profile itself presents as a resume that recruiters can browse at any time. Be sure it is accurate, up-to-date, and professional. You could be missing out on countless opportunities if hiring managers follow your URL and wind up on a dead page. Link to an online resume or portfolio LinkedIn isn’t the only place to post your resume. Depending on your position and industry, it might be more suitable to have an online portfolio of work. Providing hiring managers with a link to your portfolio lets them explore your body of work and past projects. With a portfolio or online resume on a different platform, always be sure to keep everything accurate and up-to-date. Job board Uploading your resume to an online job board can be an efficient way to quickly browse and apply to multiple jobs. Do your research and be sure the job board you’re using is legitimate. You don’t want your personal information floating around cyberspace on unsafe platforms. Be mindful that your best chance at standing out to hiring managers is by using a targeted resume. Creating a blanket resume and mass applying to job openings is less effective. Online form You may click to apply to a job listing and find that it leads to an online form prompting you to type in your resume information directly. This is the bane of many job searchers. You spent all this time creating the perfect resume, now you have to re-type it for every submission? This is often the choice of larger companies that receive a massive number of applicants for each role. Online forms allow for easy use of ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) that filter out resumes using specific keywords. This instantly cuts down on the number of resumes an actual person has to review. Research your target company and create an ATS-friendly resume that reaches recruiters. Key takeaways for submitting a resume Be sure to follow directions closely and include a brief, professional message when emailing your resume to hiring managers. If you’re applying to a small business, do some research and decide if delivering your resume in person is more suitable. Be prepared to distribute both paper and digital versions of your resume at networking conferences, but only when appropriate. Know when a paper resume is necessary and bring a printed copy to job interviews. Explore the multiple avenues of electronic resumes and be sure that yours is always professional, accurate, and up-to-date.
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