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Resumés:
Electronic Resumés

Keywords

Employers and recruiters generally scan resumés into a database and then search the resumé database using "keywords." Keywords are the basis of the electronic search and retrieval process and generally include:

• Nouns or phrases that highlight technical or functional areas of expertise
• Industry-related phrases
• Project-related vocabulary

In preparing your resumé, think about the keywords the company might be looking for and make sure those keywords are included on your resumé. There are several ways to research the keywords a company may be looking for:

• Review the company's website for major messages
• Review job descriptions posted on the company's website
• Review the website of an industry association for key industry vocabulary

Do NOT include a separate section in your resumé called KEYWORDS.

Submitting Your Resumé Electronically

When submitting your resumé to an employer, do not assume that it is acceptable to send your resumé as an attachment. Many employers request that you do not send attachments and prefer simple text resumés (ASCII format) in the body of an email. A handout on the steps needed to create an ASCII resumé suitable for sending via e-mail is available at the Career Center.

How to Convert a Word Document to a Text Document