Career Development
Center
  Occidental College
 1600 Campus Road,
Coons 109
 Los Angeles, CA
 90041-3314

 Email: careers@oxy.edu
 Phone: 323.259.2623
 Fax: 323.341.4900

Career Guides to Assist in the Job Search

Electronic Resume

Advances in scanning and image technology have started a revolution in the collection, storage, and management of resumes. Through this technology, many businesses and organizations have begun using scanners to screen their job applicants.  In addition, more and more resumes are being sent by email.

Therefore, you should you have a presentable version of your resume for interviews and a data attractive version for the computer. In other words, you will need to develop two versions of your resume: a visually attractive resume and an electronic scannable resume.  Often you will want to send your email resume in text format.

At one time, it was acceptable to send multiple copies to an employer, each showcasing your talents for a different position. With today's advanced technologies and computer database systems, submitting multiple resumes may only succeed in flagging you as "high risk" or "unfocused." 

How It Works

Resumes are received by the employer and are scanned into a computer. The computer "reads" each resume, looking for keywords, and files the resume in its system. When a job opening needs to be filled, the employer tells the computer what keywords to look for and then the computer finds all of the resumes that match those keywords. The resumes are ranked by number of matched keywords. 

When writing a scannable resume, many of the rules for a traditional resume apply. The secret of a successful scannable resume is the use of the keywords that employers have selected for consideration. This is not an easy task, as many keywords vary from employer to employer. 

Content

A scannable resume will resemble a non-scannable resume, with a few exceptions. 

Identification

List your name, address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address on separate lines; fancy formatting might only confuse the computer. 

Objective

Indicate what your specific goals are and what position you want to fill. 

Keyword/Summary Section

This should be a short, strong, opening paragraph. Indicate your key experiences and your strongest skills. 

Education, experience, activities/ interests, accomplishments, and references

Like a traditional, written resume, these sections should include past work experience, education, volunteer positions, internships, awards, etc. 

Keywords

What you include in your resume is how the computer will file your information. Where traditional resumes use action verbs to interest the reader, scannable resumes use nouns to attract attention. 

Keyword Samples by Occupation

Accounting Manager
manager 
BS Accounting 
CPA 
accounts payable 
accounts receivable 

Salesperson
BS/BA 
exceeded quota 
will travel 

Writer
copy editing 
creative writing 
editing 
journalism 
technical writing 

Advertising/Comm.
articles 
promotion material 
sales promotion 
cable television 
Adobe PageMaker 

Teacher
adult education 
GED 
instructional TV 
development 
social education 
computer-aided testing 

TV/Movie Arts
concept design 
costuming 
creative 

It is even more critical now that you research the company and position, as well as the requirements of the job, in order to include the keywords on your resume. 

Format

• Less is more! The best scannable resumes are simple, unadorned, uncluttered, and unpretentious.
• Use abbreviations for degree: BA, BS
• Simple, structured format
• Date, job title, and company on one line
• Single-space text
• Double-space between sections
• Title all sections
• Use plain font; no scripted font
• Use a laser printer
• Use white paper, 8-1/2" x 11"
• Headlines are 12 pt. boldface; the rest is 10pt.
• Use paper clips, no staples

Tips of the Trade

• Use future dates when listing education, if applicable, omitting the word "expected.
• Avoid bullets, boxes, lines, italics, boldface, and underline.
• Avoid ambiguous phrases and vague word choice (example: "responsible for project organization becomes "organized series of projects for marketing new line of software.") Be specific!
• Avoid using a passive voice (example: "experience with blueprints" becomes "drafted construction blueprints.")
• Use specific names of tools, instruments, software you have used such as Excel, FileMaker Pro, and/or WordPerfect for Windows.
• Maximize industry terminology and jargon _ only if used widely.
• State quantitative terms and measurable results (example: managed fourteen commercial brokers.)
• Always send originals; don't fold.
• Don't put the cover letter and resume on the same page.

An Exception to the Rule

One page is no longer the rule of resume length for scannable resumes. If you have the background and experience, the more keyword points you present about yourself, the more likely you are to be matched to a position by the computer.