The fast pace of today's world is significantly affecting how resumes are reviewed. Many human resource departments use computers, optical scanners, and a variety of database programs to identify potential candidates without spending hours wading through resumes. In some cases, technology has even replaced human beings in the initial screening process. In other words, you can stop licking those stamps.
Yesterday's resumes were typeset, focused on job titles and experience, and highlighted job descriptions. Today's resume still has a professional appearance, but it now highlights results and achievements. In addition, hard copies are no longer an absolute requirement. Today, employers accept-and often prefer-to receive resumes in a variety of formats, including traditional print, electronic, and scannable. This article will focus on scannable resumes.
What is a scannable resume, and what must you do to ensure it arrives with its content intact? Most of the restrictions of a scannable resume involve resume formats. Therefore, it's important to consider the requirements of scanning equipment to ensure your resume can be entered into a recruitment database. If the scanner rejects your resume because of formatting, you may never be considered. Below are some tips that will help you make sure your resume is successful.
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If you fax your resume to be scanned, set the fax machine settings on "fine mode" rather than on "standard mode." It's a little more costly and more time consuming, but your resume will scan much more easily.
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Your name should appear as the first text on the resume. Place your name on its own line. If you don't, the computer may incorrectly store your personal information.
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Always date the document. Resumes in public databases are often out of date and won't reflect your current skill level.
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Don't put staples in your resume. Even when the staples are removed, the pages may stick together, which could cause scanning problems.
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Use a font size of 10 to 14 points. Any smaller, and the type may be difficult or impossible for scanners to read.
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Boldface is acceptable for most systems. You can use boldface for headings unless an employer specifically tells you to avoid it. If you're unsure whether boldface is acceptable, capital letters can be an appropriate substitution.
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Avoid higher mathematical symbols, italicized text, script, and underlined passages. Script, higher mathematical symbols, italics, and underlining often cause characters to bleed, which can make your resume difficult to read.
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Avoid using graphics and shading. The scanning equipment used in most organizations is set to read text, not graphics. Any graphics on your resume may either be ignored or may cause your resume to be rejected completely. Putting important items, such as contact information, in graphic form on a scanned resume is highly discouraged.
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Use horizontal and vertical lines sparingly. Some scanning experts say to avoid vertical lines on your resume, as they can blur or be misinterpreted by the equipment as the letter "i." If you use lines, place at least a quarter-inch of white space around each line.
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Avoid compressing space between letters. When you compress your text to fit onto one page, it may become unreadable to the scanner.
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Send an original copy, if possible. The sharper the resume, the easier it is for a scanner to read.
One final tip: Always check and make sure your resume was received by the intended company and that it's in an acceptable format. IBI
