* Follow On-Line Instructions
Follow any instructions the employer provides on transmitting your e-mail resume. Many employers dislike having the resume sent as an attachment - this is why they value a system like JobsHawaii where the resume is sent in plain text and archived online. It is critical to include a cover letter with every resume. (NOTE: Some employers will not accept e-mail resumes and require that you use other methods or come in person)

* Include a “Skills” Section
Place a “key skills” section at the top of your resume, and list all keywords, separated by commas or periods. Nouns should dominate your skills section. List all programs and software you know well, and highlight specific capabilities you have, such as communications skills, organizational skills, or management abilities. Keep your keyword summary to between 20 and 30 items. Listing them at the top of the resume gives the reviewer a quick idea of what he/she can expect to find throughout the rest of your resume.”

* Match the Employer's Needs
Cut and paste specific requirements for the job next to your skill sets to make sure you address each one. You can also print-out the job and utilize another form of older technology, (the highlighter pen) highlight the information that is of interest to you and match your areas of experience and skills. Compare the information to your resume and customize your resume to communicate the fact that you are the perfect match for the employer's needs.

* No Typos Need Apply
Typos and gramatical errors are unforgiving. They immediately scream your non-commitment to quality or lack of attention to detail. They might even represent that you have an uncaring attitude about the job - since it wasn't important enough to take the time and proof. A couple of typos won't kill you, but in this day and age with all of the software tools, you needn't have any.

* DO NOT Compose Online
Compose your resume in a word document then cut and paste it into the resume field. If you use the online tools like JobsHawaii's Resume Wizard, cut and paste the final text into a word processing software so that you can do check the grammer and spelling. Then cut and paste the corrected text back into your resume field and save. Another idea is to send a test copy to yourself and/or someone else to check the formatting of your plain text resume. You'll learn a lot by doing this and ensure you make a great first impression.

* Appropriate Terminology
Most recruiters search for resumes using the terms listed in their ads. Use major job boards and corporate websites to research the kinds of keywords associated with jobs that interest you. Compare one ad to another to find similarities in the ways keywords are used. You’ll want to make sure your resume includes the most-used keywords.

* Keywords
In a traditional resume, your focus is on action verbs, and on explaining the positions you’ve held. Keyword resumes need to be searchable. To make sure yours is, use keywords—nouns and phrases that succinctly detail your skills and competencies. Recruiters also search for buzzwords or jargon that pertain to the position or industry, so be sure to include these.
Examples of keywords include: Microsoft, product management, SQL Server, HR, human resources, communications skills, MBA, technical writer, data delivery, administrative assistant, developing, creating.

* Using Different Keyword Forms and Acronyms
If you used “coordination” in your skills summary, use “coordinate” in the body of your resume. In using different keyword forms, you’ll maximize the exposure your resume will receive. Utilize both complete-word keywords and acronyms. For example, your resume should include both “MBA” and “Masters in Business Administration,” or both “HR” and “Human Resources.” Try to cover all your bases.

REMEMBER: The employer tells you what they want and need. Their company information tells you about their environment. You as the job seeker want to spend your time pursuing viable opportunities because you can't afford to waste precious time and resources. You have more options than ever before to make their job and company information work for you. Just COMMUNICATE....

SOME STANDARD RULES OF THUMB E-mail, newsgroups and most resume databases require you to format your resume in basic text or ASCII. These plain text resumes have the advantage of being read by most computer programs and are easily transferred through electronic media. The major disadvantage is the loss of fancy formatting. The content of the resume should follow the same standards as a paper resume. Many plain text resumes will be managed in a database so special attention should be given to keywords and action verbs should be used sparingly. PLAIN TEXT OR ASCII... * Pronounced "AS-key" stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange (term for plain text) * Notepad or SimpleText automatically saves your file as a plain text or ASCII file * Any character found on your keyboard is ASCII equivalent ASCII CHARACTERS Letters A through Z, both upper and lowercase Numbers 0 through 9 Punctuation marks: ! " # $ & ' ( ) * + , - . / : ; < = > ? ` @ [ \ ] ^ _ ~ CONVERTING WORD PROCESSING FILE to ASCII... * Spell check your document before you save it as a text file * Do not use any special characters these will not get transfer accurately to ASCII * Select all of your text and change to Courier 12 * Change your margins to * Save As "text" file * Open your file in NotePad or SimpleText to format FORMATTING * Use monospaced fonts such as Courier 12, * Use the Word Wrap function in NotePad OR hit return at the end of each 65 charter line if their is no word wrap function * Use capital letters for EMPHASIS and titles: capitals are equivalent to screaming or yelling in electronic correspondence * Create White space to break up sections hit an extra return between items you want clearly separated * Asterisks (*) instead of bullets: make sure you put space between the asterisk and the text * Keep sections short and concise * To indent a sentence or center a heading, use the spacebar do not use tabs * Your email address and contact information at the top KEYWORDS... * Keyword with nouns that emphasize skills: one way to identify keywords is to underline all skills listed in ads and job descriptions for the types of jobs you want * Keyword variation. Say the same thing in different ways; use a thesaurus * Keyword integration throughout your resume * Keyword language and industry buzz words COVER LETTERS... * Short and to the point * Include information relevant to the job you are seeking using keywords (see below) * Reference where you found the job listing, any job posting reference numbers, your email address and contact information * Write to a person, not a title * Demonstrate pride, confidence, energy and enthusiasm * Be (real) personable yet professional MAKE IT STAND OUT - TARGET IT and PROOF IT... * Target it to the industry/occupation and the employer * Target it with a customized cover letter * Proof it by reading over your entire resume and having someone else read it * Proof it again before you hit the submit button when sending

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