Dear Matt: I had my résumé done by a professional résumé writer, but most of the jobs I am applying to are online and I have to fill in required fields to submit via an online résumé form. It's time consuming and never seems to look as good as it could. Should I worry how it looks on the other end? Could I just send my résumé in as a word document? Should I also send it in via e-mail as well as through the online form? Should I also mail it? What do recruiters prefer?
Matt: I agree, those online résumé forms are tricky, tedious and time consuming. I've always wondered what the formatting looks like on the other end, what they think when they read it - and if they even get it when you hit submit.
But when employers have set up a recruiting system where they're using an online application process, that's the process you need to follow, says Twin Cities HR consultant, Arlene Vernon (www.arlenevernon.com). That's because one of the first tests employers give to candidates is assessing whether candidates will follow the employer's basic recruiting instructions.For example, if an employment ad says "include cover letter and salary requirements," candidates who don't provide that information may not be considered for the job. So, if an employer wants you to use their online process, chances are they've built their résumé sort-and-review process within that system and want you to use it.
"Unfortunately, this method is very time consuming," says Vernon. "But if you want to be considered for employment, set aside the extra time, and play by the employer's rules."
You can complement the online application with an e-mailed résumé, but there's no guarantee the method you choose for sending your résumé is the method the company will accept, Vernon adds.
"Fewer and fewer organizations request snail mail résumés, so I'd skip that process," she says. "And I definitely would not send only an e-mail or mailed résumé when the online approach is requested. Your chances of it getting read are even slimmer."
Many companies have online application systems so that the information can be stored electronically, but they usually also offer the opportunity to upload your résumé as a word file, says Gwen Martin, Managing Partner of NumberWorks - a firm specializing in the placement of consultants in the field of finance and accounting.
Keep in mind, other applicants have to fill out the same form and recruiters have specific reasons for using the methods they do. Most important, "remember, while the presentation of your résumé may seem important, it is the content that really matters," says Martin.
