How to Format an eRésumé

In the old days people would have their resume professionally typeset and printed on high quality paper in order to make a great impression. That was fine when resumes were snail mailed and handed out to hiring managers. Today, more than ever, resumes are transmitted via email or uploaded to an employer or job site. That means properly formatting an electronic version of your resume is vital for it to get you noticed and secure an interview.

Since the resume will be viewed on a computer screen or tablet it must convey your strongest attributes on the top third of the screen. Headlines, brief summary statements, and concise skills sections are all good choices for this area. Also know that with online application systems, resumes are scanned with sophisticated software programs that identify key words and even dates of employment (be sure to include the month and year). Scanning makes it necessary to put information that matches the job requirements in the first third of page one.

Keep it Simple - Avoid symbols, text boxes, and other stylistic elements that won’t display properly and can create a messy look. Photos are not a good idea either. At the top in the contact section provide just one phone number, ideally your mobile phone, and one email address. I also advocate listing a hyperlink to your LinkedIn page and website if you have one – just be sure to verify they work before submitting your resume!

When listing your job history under the heading Professional Experience don’t just list the company name and your duties. Sure, many Fortune 500 company names can tell the reader what they do, but if not, it’s helpful to state what the organizations you worked for do, e.g., manufacturer of diagnostic medical devices, and what division or department you were in. Adding where you were based is also helpful so show where the company HQ is but state "based in Atlanta" and remote or hybrid.

With regard to the position you held, give a brief overview describing your role, the market, and the products. Be careful using jargon and acronyms unless you truly believe the reader is in an industry segment in which these are well known and spelling them out is unnecessary. Under Education, in addition to college degrees and majors, be sure to also list training, courses (both in person and virtual), and certifications if you have any.

Frank Manfre Career Coaching www.frankmanfre.com/

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