An Insider's Guide To Scan-Proofing Your Online Resume By Melissa Brewer At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Almost every online job application puts your computer through the scanner before it ever reaches human hands – sad, but true. If your resume isn't organized, or can't be properly read by the computer scanner, your resume might get tossed aside without even being touched by an actual human. If you're a fine match to the job, this is not only a loss to you, but a loss to the company you're applying to. However, you're the one fighting for a job in this economy, so you're the one who needs to make sure your resume gets through the initials traps and red tape. Here's how to change up your resume to make it through the technological trappings of the modern human resources world:

● Use descriptive nouns. Scanners recognize nouns more than verbs. So focus your resume with descriptive nouns that hone in on the job being offered, and how you fit into the description. The more nouns you use, the better your chance that you will hit some or all of the key words that scanner's set up to look for. As a general rule in resume writing, you want to use shorter, more commonly used words. This is essential for resumes read by computer scanners. Their vocabulary may be limited so you don’t want to get too technical or full of jargon.

● Use your section keywords. Include your skill-set, education, experience, talents, abilities, and history. Computer scanners actively look for these sections so your potential employer can see that your resume is broken approriately.

● Keep it simple. Scanners don't like designs or fancy graphics or fonts. If it can't read your resume, your resume may just get thrown out, instead. Use a standard font and basic format when submitting a resume online. Computers can understand white space between sections, so if you want to break your resume up to keep the formatting clean, this is a good way to space it out.

● Don't add graphs or charts. Even if you normally include graphs or charts in your resume, these are not appropriate when a computer is going to scan them, because, again, they can't read pictures and may cause a malfunction. You will have to convert these sections into text that is as interesting a read as your chart.

● Don't use abbreviations. Computers don't understand them – you have to spell everything out, including degrees.

● Use the standard name and address format. The top line should contain your first and last name, then the next lines your contact information.

● Length doesn't matter. Resumes meant for computer scanners can actually be up to to four pages in length, and your potential employer won't be put off. They'll be aware that you formatted your resume to help the scanner do its job – just don't stretch the information to impress them - make sure everything on the resume has the most impact possible.

It may seem that technology has made the the application process for sending your resume and getting an interview harder than ever, but once you know the in's and out's of what's expected, you'll stand apart from the crowd and have a leading edge on the competition. Very few people know how to format their resumes specifically for a computer scanner, so now, you're ahead of the game in many respects. Take the time to be prepared and take advantage of the opportunity to put your best foot forward by creating a resume that will not only get through the electronic obstacles, but into the hands of the person that will give you the interview.

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