E-résumés are useful in three types of situations

• E-mail submissions. Some organizations/recruiters want résumés submitted on-line. Saving it first as a text file--rich text format (.rtf) is a good choice. Then cut and paste the text of your résumé directly into an e-mail message, or send it as an attachment. However, you can't always be sure that the "paste-up" or attachment will preserve your original formatting--font size, bullets, etc.
  
  
• Electronic-résumé scanning. Some organizations/recruiters use an electronic scanner to make the first "cut" of applications. The scanner picks out résumés with keywords chosen by the employer as relevant to the position. This practice is increasingly common with large organizations.
  
  
• Posting a résumé on-line. When you decide to submit a résumé to an Internet job posting site.
  
  

E-résumé Do's and Don'ts

Traditional résumés use action verbs. But E-résumés use nouns that can be scanned and matched against a database of desired keywords. For example, in an E-résumé, "project management" is a better choice than "managed complex projects."

Do...

• Put your name and address on separate lines.
  
• Use white space to separate elements visually.
  
• Use nouns instead of action verbs.
  
• Font size should be readable. Plain-12 point Times Roman is a good choice.
  
• Use dashes (-) instead of bullets for lists.
  
• Capitalize words instead of bolding them.
  
• Use one date (1999), rather than a range of dates (1998-1999).

Don't...

• Bold, underline or italicize text.
  
• Use columns.
  
• Put in clip art, graphics or illustrations.
  
• Use shading.
  
• Tab any lines.
  
• Use fancy fonts.

A Sample E-résumé

CAREER OBJECTIVE

- To exceed each client's expectations through strong communication and inspired designs

EDUCATION

- Mac Troubleshooting Workshop, Mac Users' Group, 2000

- Multimedia Certificate, College of Art, 1996

- Applied Arts Diploma, College of Art, 1995

EXPERIENCE

- The Children's Safe Environment Council, 2000. Web site maintenance. Update student placement contact list. Design, illustration and writing of colouring book "12 Basic Rules of Safety for Children."

- Film, Television, and Theatre, 1998. Creation, development, improvisation, and performance of a variety of roles in numerous productions.

- Transport Canada, Quick Messenger Service, 1997. Organization and delivery of time-sensitive material.

COMPUTER SKILLS

- Quark XPress 3.31, 3.32 and 4
- Adobe Illustrator 6.0 and 7.0
- Adobe Photoshop 4.0.1 and 5.0
- Microsoft Word
- Director 6.5
- Acrobat Reader

INTERESTS

- Production of plays
- Hockey league
- Science fiction books

REFERENCES ON REQUEST

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