As the manager of two aviation web sites, I have learned that one of the best ways to promote people who are looking for work is to allow for them to list their resume right online. Unlike a traditional resume, there are some things best left off an online resume. Let's take a look at some of things you need to do as your craft your online copy. 1. Omit certain personal information. You must include your name, the area in which you live [for example, Chicagoland], a contact phone number, and an email address. Please be aware that your telephone number can reveal more to people about you than what you want them to know. Showing an unlisted phone number is preferable; only give out your cell number if you can reasonably see an advantage in sharing that information openly. Identity theft and stalking are persistent problems; be careful that your resume invites neither practice. 2. Your photograph. This is optional and not nearly as commonplace in the U.S. as it is in Europe. Still, in some fields it has become mandatory. Make sure you are photographed wearing suitable business garb. Your picture should be cropped and in the majority of cases be a headshot only. A *jpg or *png extension file looks much nicer than a *gif. 3. State your objective. A one sentence statement outlining what sort of position you want is best. 4. Work experience. Okay, now for a quandary. Do you really want to list information about a company online? Instead of mentioning companies by name and listing specific service dates, why not consider substituting that information with common details such as: "Five Year Position as an Accountant for a Prestigious Big Four Accounting Firm in Chicago." You can then follow that declaration with the usual "duties and accomplishments." 5. Education. List all relevant information with or without dates. Any schooling that is related to the position you are seeking should elicit a mention. 6. References. Only list "furnished upon request." Better yet: leave that statement out as it is a "given." 7. Layout and Display. Your online copy should also feature: a border, an attractive background, an attractive font [Arial or Verdana], font size should be 12 pt., your name should be listed in bold, and hyperlinks must be active [especially for your email address]. Just as with a hard copy of a resume, your online adaptation will get a quick look over by a hiring specialist. What they see and read in the first ten to fifteen seconds will go far in deciding whether you are contacted or not. Upon contact, offer to send a complete copy of your resume to them which you can forward as an email attachment or within the body of an email message. The key to a successful online resume is to list as much information about yourself without giving away intimate details. Things like your home address, phone number, and references should never be listed online; instead give interested parties enough information about what you can do for them to pique their interest to the point where they will want to contact you for additional details. |
