Internet Job Search
Dos and Don’ts for Email & Online Resumes
|
DO
8 Update your online applications periodically to keep them current.
Many recruiters and employers search databases for the newest
applicants.
8 Carefully check the spelling, grammar, and appearance of all
documents you send, including email, and have other people review
them, too. This may be someone’s first impression of you.
8 Email your resume and other job search files to yourself as file
attachments to provide emergency backup copies. Be sure to resend
new email whenever you update any of the files. Create a separate
folder in your email account to store your backup files so you won’t
accidentally delete the email.
8 Read all instructions and privacy rules very carefully. Share your
information only with websites you trust. Watch for check boxes and
radio buttons that are already pre-selected—this is a way some
websites get your permission to send you email.
8 Contact a website if you have questions or comments (look for a
“Contact Us” link on the home page). This is how they improve! Be
nice, be polite, be concise. They will appreciate it.
8 If working from a 'flash drive', be sure to keep it in the disk drive
as long as the document is open. The quickest way to corrupt a
Microsoft Word file is to remove the removable-disk while the document
is still open or close the file and Word when the disk is unavailable.
Be sure to close one file before opening another from a different disk.
8 Be sure your name is the first line of your resume, followed on
separate lines by your contact information. Be sure your email address
is on your resume.
8 Use a cover letter— Make sure it is in the " T-format "...if it is optional go ahead
and send it, as it will present more of your KEYWORDS. So is a thank you letter after an
interview.
DON’T
8 Don’t use your email or bank passwords anywhere. Create a new
password to use at online job search and career websites. The best
passwords contain both letters and numbers.
8 Don’t type email or correspondence (including your resume) IN ALL
CAPITAL LETTERS. It is rude and implies you are SHOUTING at the
reader. It is also difficult to read and unprofessional.
8 Don’t spend more than 25% percent of your job search to the Internet—
networking is still the #1 way to get a job! If possible, use the
Internet after hours and save business hours for calls and interviews.
8 Don’t send your resume as an attachment to email unless given
permission to do so. Create a plain text version that you will copy and
paste into the body of the email following a cover letter, and into
forms.
8 Don’t keep your resume and cover letters in a Works format (*.wps)
or (*.rtf)... USE Word format (*.doc) as it is universally accepted. Even
PDF and HTML files can present problems sometimes.
8 Don’t/NEVER post your references online with your resume—they may not
appreciate having their names and contact information posted on the
Internet. References do not go with your resume.
8 Don’t print a resume posted on a job board (for example,
monster.com ) to send to employers. The font is tiny, there is
information normally not listed on a resume, and the website headers
and footers will print, too. An online resume is not the same as a
formal resume.
8 Don’t forget to protect yourself and your personal information when
posting on job boards and sending email. Never give out your bank
account information or PIN numbers.
Original in PDF format is located here
