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Make your cv/resume scannable
Most job applications are now done electronically, and most employers, no matter the job level, request a cv/resume from the candidates. Have you ever wondered why employers would request cv/resumes from all candidates, when it can be extremely time consuming to review them all? Employers don’t actually review every cv/resume they receive; companies use various software to scan the cv/resumes they receive for key words and content specific to their available positions. Typically, this is the first round of cv/resume review. Your cv/resume has to make it pass the computer-generated scan in order to make it into the hands of the hiring manager.
While your cv/resume may be well-written and well-formatted, it may not be scannable. This may be the reason why you are not receiving calls from potential employers, even if you have great qualifications for the job. To make your cv/resume scannable, follow these tips:
• Special formatting may cause certain letters in words to touch, and blend into one character. This is especially the case if a word is bolded or italicized. Make sure that you review your cv/resume and revise any parts where letters are joined together, so that the words can be scanned.
• Font type and font size are very important for both your printed and electronic cv/resume. When the cv/resume is scanned, it is important that the font is recognizable by the software. Stick to the basic fonts, such as Ariel and Times New Roman, and to the basic font size, such as 10 or 12 points.
• Do not underline words or phrases in your cv/resume. In an electronic format, underlining implies that the text links to another document or a web site. Additionally, do not have any lines in the cv/resume that touch the text, as this will prevent the cv/resume from being scannable.
• All the text in your cv/resume should read from left to right in order for your cv/resume to be scannable. No special formatting, such as tables, or columns, should be contained within your electronic cv/resume.
• Do not use special characters that may not be recognized by scanning software. This includes special formatting of bullets, use of ampersands or percent signs, copyright signs, or any other characters that may not be easily recognizable by scanning software. If you are quantifying information on your cv/resume, make sure to spell out the percentage instead of using “%” as you are indicating increase in sales, for example. Whenever possibly, avoid using signs or special characters in your cv/resume.
• Even if you submit a printed cv/resume, the document may be scanned for key words to match your qualifications with available positions. It is very important that your submission is on plain white paper, in basic font type and size. If you are submitting multiple pages, make sure that all the pages are numbered, with your name in the top left corner. Do not staple multiple pages. If you do so, only the top page will be scanned.
• The most important element of a scannable cv/resume is the selection of active keywords, or power words. Do your research and make sure that you use the appropriate keywords in your cv/resume that apply toward the position you are seeking. Having appropriate keywords throughout your cv/resume makes it easier for the software to find matches when scanning the document. Helpful tip: review the employer’s job requirements for keywords. What are the required qualifications for the job? Make sure that your cv/resume contains the same terminology as that on the job description, without direct copying of the text, of course. When your cv/resume is scanned, the software will pick up these key words and you can be one step closer to landing your dream job.
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Latest on Resume Writing
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