If you have spent time, effort, and perhaps even money crafting a great résumé that captures your marketable skills and experience in an attractive format, you may not be happy with the document your prospective employer actually receives.

Employers' submission requirements vary, but many, in an effort to avoid viruses associated with attached files, ask candidates to cut and paste their résumé and cover letter into an email. There's no mystery as to what they will see with those instructions: a plain and simple document that is distinguished from others solely by its content. In that case, it is imperative that your information is clear, concise and that it contains pertinent key words from the job posting as well as examples of how you have demonstrated the required skills.

When prospective employers accept attachments, consider sending your documents in a pdf format, rather than a Word file. The pdf (portable document format) format is a "photo" of your document that can not be modified. With this format, you can be certain that the integrity of your documents remains in tact, which is often an issue if the recipient uses a different platform (Mac vs pc).

Pay close attention to the employer's instructions for submitting your résumé and cover letter. You can avoid surprises by first sending your documents to a friend to make sure it is consistent with the original version.

Finally, I suggest that you mail a paper copy of your résumé and cover letter the same day you submit them online. It's always a good idea to call to confirm that your material actually arrived at its destination and use this contact to inquire about the hiring process and timeframe at the same time!

E-mail this entry to a friend