1.
What are Keywords, and why are they important to my
online resume?
Keywords are industry buzzwords. They are
descriptive terms that explain various processes, skills
and job functions within a given industry. For example,
if you are a salesperson, some keywords that might be
used in your resume include, Business Development, Cold
Calling, and Sales Cycle Management. Many companies use
a system that scans your resume, looking for specific
keywords, or will search through online job board
databases for qualified candidates using a system to
pick up “hits” on their list of keywords. Not
only should there be copious keywords in your resume,
you should be able to perform and/or give an example of
how you have utilized that particular process or skill
in your prior experience.
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2.
I'm worried about my privacy, what do I need to look for
when I am posting my resume?
There are several issues to consider regarding your
privacy, when you post a resume online. First is
password protection, just who is it that will see your
resume, and how do they gain access to it?
Ideally, you want a site where the potential employers
have a password of their own in order to access the
resume, and you have "hidden" any identifying
factors on your resume, such as name, address, company
names, etc., and the only way a potential employer can
contact you is via email or telephone. Not only
will this make it more difficult for your current
employer to find out about your job search (remember
most of today's companies search for candidates online),
this is the age of identity theft, so posting online
should allow you to maintain privacy and
confidentiality.
What
are the sites privacy guidelines? Will the job
board reverse spam me? Always read the fine print!
Go to the privacy section on the website. Read it
word for word. I know, this is not terribly
exciting, but there is information within each job
board's privacy terms, including selling of personal
information, placement of cookies on your computer
system, banner advertising from "partners"
that monitor your web activity, credit card security (if
you plan to utilize any paid services), and job board
"partners" who will post your resume to their
site (also called reverse spamming). Without
reading the fine print, you could find that the resume
you posted to one job board, is now on 50, and the
number is growing daily. Considering that the
"partner" job boards may not protect your
privacy/confidentiality, you could find yourself in some
sticky situations. Your current employer could
find out about your job search, you could be the
recipient of too many calls from potential employers,
recruiters and MLM's that you have little interest in,
you may be unable to monitor your resume on the multiple
sites, and edit or delete as needed, and your are now at
risk for identity theft. If in doubt, call the job
board's contact number, and ask questions!
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3.
What's a plain text resume, and how does it assist in my
online job search?
A plain text resume is a specialized version of your
resume that can be used for emailing; applying online at
corporate websites, and posting to online job boards.
Today, employers often request potential candidates
email their resume, but many times a candidate will send
the resume as an attachment. Unfortunately the
employer, unless specifically asking for an attachment,
will not open the email, thus nixing the chances for
employment with that company. Possible viruses
within the attachment, incompatible software, lack of
computer knowledge, and requiring the employer go to an
extra step, can be just a few of the reasons your resume
would be deleted.
By
using the plain text version, you can ensure that the
employer views your resume within the email without
distraction. Although the plain text resume is not
as attractive compared to a formatted resume, you avoid
the problems of viruses, ISP or software
incompatibility, computer knowledge problems on the
employers end, and a host of other potential problems.
Additionally, the plain text format gives you the
ability to post your resume to corporate websites, job
boards, or any other place you choose to online, without
any of the aforementioned difficulties.
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4.
What job boards should I post my resume on?
Two words. Be choosy. Job seekers tend
to think more is better - but that's not necessarily
true when it comes to posting your resume online.
You want to target your job search to the job boards
that have the most potential for your industry.
These can include the large job boards such as,
Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com, regional, local, and
industry specific job boards. Look each job board
website over carefully, does it cost you to post to
their site? What's their privacy policy? Can
you edit or delete your resume as needed? Can you
have more than one resume in their database? How
many resume postings can you manage? Does it
currently list jobs in your industry? Will the job
board notify you if a job matching your criteria and
experience is posted? Ultimately the decisions
will be up to you, the job seeker. Choose wisely!
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