Probably the best way for job hunters to understand why it is so important to follow the simple guidelines in developing their electronic resumes is the perspective of folks who have to look at them and make hiring decisions. Here is a compilation of 12 pet peeves, known as the "Disciples’ Don’ts!!" that I’ve been gathering from recruiters and HR professionals as they comment about the thousands of resumes that cross their computer monitors:

1. Don’t send attached documents. Between viruses and the time it takes to scan and download, recruiters consider the resumes that they can easily read first! Many times, they will fill openings before they even get to the resumes that must be downloaded.

2) Don’t send a resume in an obscure, incompatible program. Use Microsoft Word regardless of whether you have a Mac or a PC.

3) Don’t use fancy fonts or graphics! In this day and age of fonts and graphics, job hunters have forgotten how to send a plain text message (aka ASCII, in computer parlance). Recruiters report that it would be so much easier if applicants created their resumes in a strictly text format with minimal special layouts and sent it in the body of the email. Then they are easier to read, scan and they take up less space on servers and hard drives. The additional benefit for recruiters is that they can quickly forward the resumes to hiring mangers. Simplicity in email is the key.

4) Don’t apply if it’s clear that your job experience does not match the job description. If there is a perceived mismatch of your previous job title, skill sets, and/or location requirements, then address it in a short, concise cover statement. For example, recruiters receive too many resumes from 3000 miles away with no explanation as to if or when they would be relocating to the area. These are immediately deleted! Recruiters do not have time to follow up on a resume that leaves multiple questions.

5) Don’t make multiple submissions. Since it takes no time at all to send a second or third resume online, job hunters think that their resume will stand out if a recruiter sees it more than once. Do not re-apply to the same position over and over. This becomes annoying, very quickly. Instead, try sending a quick email to ask if the recruiter/HR received the resume and if it is being considered. Multiple submissions make recruiters’ jobs that much harder and tend to irritate the daylights out of them.

6) Don’t send your resume out without using F7! There is no excuse for NOT pressing F7 to check your spelling, punctuation and grammar before sending your electronic resume. Check, double-check, then ask someone else to proof your resume before you send it out.

7) Don’t bother to orient your previous experience with the job posted. Job hunters who make no attempt to customize their resumes to the job description will NOT be considered. Recruiters recommend that job hunters develop multiple resumes so that job hunters have different ways of portraying who they are and what they have been doing. They recommend preparing at least 3 different resumes that highlight different aspects of a job hunter’s experience and expertise.

For example, if you are brand new to the job market, you probably have had a major and a minor at college or a job or internship that would mean more to an employer. Thinking of yourself as a multi-faceted, multi-talented individual and reflecting that in your multiple resumes will result in more job possibilities and opportunities.

8) Don’t limit each line in your resume to 65- 72 characters maximum to accommodate the size of any recruiter’s monitor. Most e-mail programs wrap text around at 72 characters. That means any line longer than 72 characters is going to be cut off and dropped down to the next line, making your resume look like it was hit by a chainsaw. Avoiding that 73rd character will help format the document so it stays organized and easy to read. And HR folks will love you for being so considerate!

9) Don’t bother to showcase your strong points first. Remember that newspaper articles include the most important information at the front of the article. The best parts of a job hunter’s resume should be up front, too. Don't make the recruiter scroll down through loads of information before getting to the good stuff.

10) Don’t bother to take your electronic resume out for a trial run. Job hunters should email their resume to themselves, their references, and their friends so that they catch technical problems and errors -- not a recruiter. They will help you make sure the text looks right on the screen and prints out correctly. Ask your editor to double check how the format looks when they receive a draft of your resume through email. What you think may look lovely on your screen may be a jumble of words on theirs!

11) Don’t take advantage of the subject line to capture a recruiter’s attention right away. Too many job hunters ignore the power of the subject line. They merely say "resume" or "response to job posting." Use it to write something clever about the job posting or at least use the full description of the job so that it will be very clear to the person who receives your email. Don’t leave them wondering!

12) Don’t include a cover letter before you insert your electronic resume. It sounds like a no-brainer but many applicants for jobs don't include letters with their electronic resumes. Cover letters that accompany electronic resumes should be brief and concise. Keep in mind that recruiters want you to introduce yourself, they want to see how you write, and they want to see you make a case for why the position they need to fill is the one you're right for. Be sure to indicate which position you're applying for, what your qualifications are, and what you can contribute to the company.

Resources for Electronic Resumes:

Rebecca Smith is well known for her writing on electronic resumes. Check out her website for tutorials on writing them.

Career centers at universities often have sections on their websites about writing electronic resumes. Check with your favorite university.

CareerBuilder.com and Monster.com are just a few of the hundreds of job boards that give tips to job hunters about building electronic resumes.

Next month we’ll focus on internship websites. This is a good time of year to be thinking about them — whether you’re a high school student, in college, or thinking about a new career. Internships can provide valuable experiences and networking possibilities. We’ll show you which sites have the best opportunities.

Feel free to contact me re questions or concerns about using the Internet in your job search. I can be reached at jlommel@WorkforceAssociates.com Happy job search!

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