Career Center - Resume "How To's"

Posting Your Resume On The Internet? Take Some Pointers From From An Industry Expert

When it comes to resumes, there's a right way and a wrong way. And the right way is the one that works best for employment managers and recruiters. While hundreds of books and articles have been written on the do's and don'ts of printed resumes, in the words of one industry expert, once you decide to venture out on the information superhighway, "it's time to think again."

Jeff Taylor is the creator of The Monster Board; a resume hub on the World Wide Web that enables people from all areas of the country and the workforce to have an interactive resume "on-line". According to Taylor, you don't have to look for a job on the Internet, because once your resume is there, the jobs will find you. However, if you decide to go into cyberspace, you do need to rethink your strategy.

"First, remember that you are not working on a piece of paper and your resume is not going to sit in a stack of paper on someone's desk," says Taylor, "so you have to figure out how to be 'discovered' or searched out." Taylor points out that recruiters search resume databases like The Monster Board using keywords. Keywords are words that describe your skills or experiences and can be used as parameters in a search. Most often, they will come from the specific terminology that is used in your job.

"We've learned by talking with hundreds of recruiters that they expect the Internet to be easier and more accurate as they review applicants for jobs," said Taylor, "key words help them complete a search in minutes and the result is a dozen or more people who are a great fit for the job."

For instance, 'ICU' or 'operating room' will immediately help classify the kinds of experience and skills that a nurse has to offer and 'pediatric ICU' will define them even further. Likewise, 'month end close' or 'general ledger' give a broad description for an accountant, while 'cash reconciliations' or 'tax planning' will take him or her to a higher level. Choose these keywords carefully, advises Taylor, since they say volumes about what you have to offer to your next employer.

"Next, be sure to give a short summary of your job experience for each position on your resume--don't rely on the position title." urges Taylor. Because different titles mean different things in different companies, you must append that information with additional, specific keywords. "Use a lot of words," Taylor says, "you will not be punished for length in the same way that you would on paper."

Again, new medium, new rules. And since you are trying to have your resume stand out in a database, the more keywords, the more times employers will "hit" your resume by inputting their requirements. Also, be sure to post on a database that enables you to update your resume as your gain new skills, reach new achievements and complete training or certificate programs.

One very important distinction, according to Taylor, is to use a resume database that allows employers to find you from all parts of the U.S. and the world. The Monster Board allows employers to specify the location of jobs if they are unable to offer relocation assistance. However, they can keep their search open and seek out anyone who is qualified. Taylor sees this as a distinct advantage for job seekers. "Great opportunities can come from anywhere," says Taylor, "and with the Internet, anywhere is a very big place."

Finally, Taylor urges everyone, employed or unemployed, experienced or entry level to avoid paying to post your resume. His advice? Let the employers pick up the tab. "There are too many free services available, from website hubs like the Monster Board and On-Line Career Center to the thousands of specialized usegroups," says Taylor, "there's no reason ever for the individual to have to pay."

Who can you expect to hear from? Well, in 1995, most of the firms that are searching the Internet for talent are the nation's largest, most geographically diverse employers. However, Taylor fully expects that small and medium size companies will begin making much greater use of the Internet as a recruiting tool with the growing presence of candidate databases.

"Up to now the Web has been used to promote companies and list their job openings." says Taylor, "but Monster Board and others are really starting to gain momentum in building large databases of candidates. Now that we can deliver, more and more small companies are using us to find people in their own communities."