To convert your hard-copy resume into Text Only, follow the instructions earlier for creating your Text Only resume. When you paste your Text Only resume into the e-form window, pay attention to where you might need to insert a forced return (by pushing Enter or Return” on your keyboard) in order to keep all the text visible inside the window.
Job-Hunt Hint
It makes sense to have your e-mail address in your e-form because that’s a common way for employers and headhunters to cont act an e-resume savvy person like you!
Bonus Check
Remember the three-word test for writing the subject line of your e-mail message that I explained in earlier in Chapter, “E-mailing Resume”. The same principle applies to creating the headline of your e-form.
By the way because you’ve already entered the info from your Heading in the e-form on your screen, you can delete that from the material you paste into the Body of Your Resume window. That’s right, you only need to insert the body of your resume into that window; there’s no need for the Heading.
Keeping Up to Date
Most online resume banks offer you the capability to edit your resume. This is an important feature for several reasons:
- You can keep the info on your document up-to-date.
- You can improve your resume if it’s not drawing the response you want.
- You can correct typos should you detect them after submitting your resume.
- You can extend the life of your resume in the bank if you need to. Most banks will list your resume for a limited number of days (typically 60 to 90). By editing your resume, you essentially reset the clock.
- In some systems, new resumes are listed at the top of the entire list of resumes or may be categorized under a section such as “New Listings,” which employers are apt to look at first. By editing your document, you can re-enter the New Listings category.
The Big Thing
You’ve probably heard of online career sites are as The Job Board, Career Builder, and others advertised on the radio, TV, and in print. This type of mega site is well-managed and usually features a resume bank that offers the following:
- A large client base of employers
- A wide range of industry job categories
- National and international job openings
- A job agent (a service that e-mails you job listings that fit your criteria)
- Online job-search advice (for instance, how to write a resume)
- E-newsletters sent to you via e-mail
- The option to keep your resume anonymous to all or particular employers
- The ability to update your resume after it’s been posted
These large resume sites have a high volume of companies and headhunters that search their databases regularly. This means that you could get a response within hours of submitting your resume.
