Scannable resume?

Many large companies, and a growing number of small ones, use computers to sort the hundreds of resumes they receive. These companies scan paper resumes into a computer database. When managers need to fill a position, they program the computer with keywords that describe the qualifications they want in a candidate. The computer then searches its database for resumes that include those keywords. The resumes with the most matches are forwarded to the managers.

This new technology is good news for jobseekers. Now when these companies put your resume on file, your qualifications are ready and waiting to be electronically retrieved, not languishing in a desk drawer. Before you submit your resume to a company, call the company to find out if it scans. If it does, you will need to make sure you have a scannable resume with a computer friendly design.

Stylistic touches that are easy on a human's eyes may not be so easy on a computer scanner. A scannable resume should be devoid of any graphics or formatting that a computer might misinterpret.

The following steps will help you make a more scannable resume:

• Use nontextured white or offwhite paper with black letters.
• Choose a well-known font such as Helvetica, Arial, or Courier.
• Pick a font size of 10 to 14 points, and do not condense spacing between letters.
• Do not underline or italicize text, and do not use asterisks or parentheses. Modern systems can understand bold, but older systems might not. You can still distinguish headings by using capital letters.
• Avoid boxes, graphics, columns, and horizontal or vertical lines.
• Put your name on its own line at the top of each page. Also, give telephone numbers their own lines.
• Do not staple or fold your resume.