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Career CenterCareer Map: Q&A |
New Career Guide Blog
Check out Chris Miller's WSU Career Guide Blog, a place to get free advice from our DDP career counselor. Bookmark the site, or, even better, subscribe to the news feed.
Got a career question? E-mail Chris Miller.
Q. Most jobs require online applications. Should an e-resume be different from a regular resume?
A. Let’s start by talking about the idea of your “regular resume.” Don’t automatically ship the same resume to everyone. Tailor it to each recipient, which is certainly easier with an electronic resume.
One strategy is to use the same language used in the qualifications section of the job posting. Let’s say the employer wants someone who can “Develop and implement an agreed-upon marketing plan.”
Your resume says, “I created a marketing plan.” Think about changing that to “I developed and implemented a marketing plan.” In other words, fit the resume to the job. One advantage to this is that some employers use computer programs to scan resumes for keywords. You want to be sure that yours pops out.
If you are submitting a resume to a company without a job opening or description, you can borrow industry jargon from their Web site. You can also work those keywords into a “skills” section that addresses job requirements or a short “objective” section at the top.
Before you send that resume to your prospective employer, send it to yourself. Does it open correctly on the screen? What happens if you print it? Making sure it works for you will help ensure it works for them. But it’s no guarantee. Different companies use different software. When you are presenting yourself electronically, it is very important also to present yourself professionally. Follow up with a phone call or e-mail to make sure they received your resume in the correct format.
Q. After I send in my job application, should I really follow up with a phone call? Won’t I be bothering the busy support staff?
A. It is a very, very good idea to follow up with a phone call. There are good ways to do this and bad ways to do this. This is the art part of the job search. You don't want to call too much for obvious reasons, but you do want to follow up.
When it is a situation where you assume the employer will get hundreds of applications, then you want to call only to make sure everything was received. If you assume the application load will be smaller, then call and ask about the status of the hiring process, express interest to the appropriate party, and make contacts with anyone relevant to the job.
Hot Career Tip
One of the best resources for exploring careers is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, created by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It will help you research growing industries, hot jobs, and what it takes to get started in the careers that interest you.
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Can’t decide how best to translate your degree into a career? Contact Chris Miller, your DDP career services counselor for assistance.