Technology has not only changed the way we do business—it has also dramatically changed the way we hunt for jobs. Why bother driving around town, running from business to business to drop off your resume, when you can canvas the world with a click of your computer mouse? Why go to the trouble—and the expense—of calling numerous companies to inquire about openings when you can find many vacant positions advertised online?

Since much job-hunting these days is done by means of the computer, it only makes sense that job-seekers would want to post and transmit their resumes online. It can be time-efficient, convenient, and cheap, making it a job-hunter’s dream. Yet, as you might expect, there are certain dos and don’ts associated with online resumes.

Do E-Mail Resumes When You Can

In the majority of cases, e-mailing a resume simply makes the most sense. It’s a way to get your resume immediately to a human resources manager or a corporate executive’s assistant. Because of the high competition for many positions, time is of the essence when it comes to resume submission. If you delay in submitting your resume, you could end up missing the cut-off for submissions, ruining your chances of landing the job.

No matter what field a hiring manager is in, chances are he or she spends a fair amount of time on the computer. So, when a resume pops up in the inbox, it may get immediate attention. Since much professional success depends upon grabbing the attention of those in positions of authority, it’s to your advantage to have your resume appear instantaneously on a manager’s computer screen.

Do Make Your Resume Computer-Friendly

The last thing you want to do is to produce a resume that is difficult to read on a computer screen. Keep your type flush left so that the copy is a cinch to read. Make sure there is sufficient space between lines so that the resume will appear attractive in cyberspace. Remember, when you submit a resume online, it doesn’t really matter how that resume would appear on a printed page—what matters is how it will read in a computer window.

While you should use a standard format for an online resume, you don’t want your resume to appear like every other job applicant’s. Therefore, you might pass up the chance to use customary resume templates and wizards. Although they certainly are convenient, they will do nothing to set your resume apart.

Do Consider Posting Your Resume on a Job Site

While it is true that a recruiter may never e-mail you about the resume that you’ve posted on a national job search site, there is always the possibility that a manager may see your resume and will contact you as a result. In addition, once you have your resume securely in a job database, it can be simple to submit it electronically to employers who post jobs on the site. As a result, you might find that you’ll be saving yourself a great deal of time by positioning your resume in cyberspace.

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