4 Things to Remember When Submitting an Online Resume
Nowadays, most resumes are submitted online. Electronic job applications are quick and easy, and you can fire off dozens of them in rapid succession. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean your chances of landing a job go higher.
Before you submit your resume, there are several factors you should consider. If you need help checking your online resume, contact a professional resume writer.
Research the company
Not all jobs you might find online are legitimate. Before you even consider applying for one, research the company and verify it’s not a scam. Look for companies with a strict confidentiality policy, which is often included in the job description or the requirements section of the posting. If it’s not there, you can choose to omit personal information, such as your physical address or phone number. Still, provide an email address where the hiring manager can contact you. You can share personal information later on if you feel more comfortable with the job.
You also want to watch out for scam companies (be wary of any that want you to pay up front for training courses) and companies with high turnover—if no one stays with them for long, there has to be a reason. Also, even if a company is entirely legitimate, its values and corporate culture may not be right for you, so some preliminary research is recommended.
Read the entire job description
Don’t let yourself get so desperate that you dispatch your resume after merely skimming the job description and assuming you’re qualified. If you aren’t, you’re wasting both the hiring manager’s time and yours, and if you are, you’re effectively killing your chances by submitting a resume that isn’t tailored to the position.
You may apply for a job even if you don’t meet every single requirement, but you need to tweak your resume to clearly communicate that you’re still a good choice for the position despite not ticking all boxes. For example, you may not have the educational background they’re looking for, but you have extensive experience in that type of role. Go ahead and apply, putting your valuable experience front and center.
Tailor your resume
Many job seekers don’t want to go to the trouble of customizing their resumes for each individual job, so they send the same one to every company and hope they’ll get lucky. That’s a good way to ruin your chances as most companies won’t respond to generic resumes.
After reading the job description, look over your resume to see if your qualifications match the ones listed. If they don’t, revise your resume. You also want to make sure the keywords in the job description are in it. If you submit a generic resume, it’s almost guaranteed to get thrown out by the applicant tracking system (ATS)—a computer program that screens applications and automatically discards those it deems unsuitable. Tailoring your resume for each job can be tedious, but you can hire a professional resume writer to help you through the process.
When you’re done with the changes, proofread your resume. Don’t let all the time you’ve spent on it go to waste by allowing formatting or linguistic errors to slip through the cracks. Your resume is your opportunity to make a good first impression, and silly typos will make you look lazy and careless.
Follow submission directions
Every company has different guidelines for resume submissions. Some may require you to copy and paste the text into a section earmarked for posting your resume. Others may want you to upload a Word document or a PDF file.
Whatever the company’s instructions, comply with them strictly. If you can’t follow the resume submission guidelines, the hiring manager will assume you can’t follow other instructions, either. Keep in mind that they probably have a reason for requesting a particular file type. Some word processing applications can only handle certain formats, so if you don’t use the one specified, you run the risk of your resume being automatically disqualified because the hiring manager can’t read it.
Also, unless noted otherwise, include a cover letter when submitting your resume. This allows you to add a personal touch and show your passion for the job you’re applying for.
Submitting an online resume can be simple as long as you keep in mind that every job is different, so every resume needs to be different as well. You can waste your time sending out a generic resume en masse, or you can enhance your chances of success by tailoring your resume to each opportunity. If updating your resume for every position feels overwhelming, get in touch with a resume expert!
