ASCII Resumes and Disappearing Text

QUESTION: When I cut and paste my ASCII resume into online forms, parts of the text disappear! What am I doing wrong?
— J. Gilbert, Washougal, WA

ANSWER: It sounds like you are using an ASCII file with line breaks to do your cutting and pasting... When you need to cut and paste your resume into e-forms, you can avoid "losing" text by using an ASCII file with NO breaks (i.e., no hard returns). For comprehensive information and step-by-step instructions on how to use ASCII resumes, refer to our book: eResumes: Everything you Need to Know (McGraw-Hill, 2001).

E-Mailed Cover Letters and Web Resumes

QUESTION: I have a Web resume but still need to do a cover letter which would end up as an attachment unless I put it right in the email. I would assume the reference to the Web resume URL would go on the email? Just curious as to your opinion.
— K. Rodrigues, Bangor, ME

ANSWER: You can handle the cover letter issue in one of two ways:

1. Paste the cover letter and a copy of your ASCII text resume into the body of the email message, and reference the URL in the cover letter and resume; or
2. Paste the cover letter alone in the body of the email message and include the URL to your Web resume in the first screen (so it's seen without having to scroll down).

With scenario #2 you have a slight risk that the reader won't click through. However, if they do, they've got a full-blown 3-D version of your resume, along with a downloadable ASCII text version (provided you've used this option, which we highly recommend).

Here's an example of the cover letter using option #2:

Dear Hiring Manager:

I believe one person can make a tremendous difference … a difference in bottom-line profitability, a difference in the morale and development of staff, and a difference in relationships with customers and suppliers. As a supply-chain manager, I have made that difference. Please click-thru to my web resume – http://www.CareerFolio.com/yourname (the site also includes a downloadable ASCII text version) – which elaborates on my experience in supply-chain management, materials, purchasing, vendor negotiations, and logistics.

You’ll note that I have delivered a hard-dollar savings of nearly $100 million as a result of my management ability, strong technology skills, and excellent relationship management skills. Should my background appear to be a solution to your organization’s supply-chain needs, I’d welcome an opportunity to speak with you.

Sincerely...

Responding to Online Job Postings

QUESTION: What can I do to improve my cover letter and resume when responding to an online job posting?
— M. Young, Fresno, CA

ANSWER: There are several things you can do to optimize results:

1. Make sure your cover letter and resume are targeted for the job – avoid using a "generic" approach.
2. Include the job number or job title in the e-mail subject line.
3. Include matching keywords (in the resume and cover letter) so that you'll get a high keyword ranking during the initial screening.
   
4. Include accomplishments or special projects that demonstrate your ability to do the job well. If possible, include "quantifiers" – expanded sales by 20%, reduced staff turnover by 33%, cut costs by 50%, etc.
5. Be sure to include a "summary statement" at the top of your resume. This summary statement should include skills and qualifications (keywords) for the job of interest.
6. Do not send the resume as a Word attachment unless it is specifically requested. In most cases, you should send an ASCII / plain text version of the resume -- cut and pasted directly into the e-mail message.

About the Resume IQ Ladies

Pat Kendall and Susan Britton Whitcomb are coauthors of eResumes: Everything You Need to Know (McGraw-Hill, 2001). With more than 37 years of combined experience in resume writing, Susan and Pat know what it takes to create dynamic and effective resumes – from traditional paper resumes to state-of-the-art electronic portfolios. In addition to eResumes, Susan is the author of Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer (JIST, 1999); and Pat wrote Jumpstart Your Online Job Search (Prima Publishing, 2001).

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