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New at Career Choice Guide

Effective Interviewing

Parents Returning to Work

Feature Article

How to Submit Your Resume to Get Results

• by mail
  
• in person
  
• via fax
  
• through email
  
• online through a company website
  
• online through a job bank type website

How to Submit a Resume

• In order to determine how to submit a resume when you're applying to an advertised job, simply follow the instructions exactly as they are outlined in the ad. Be sure to read directions very carefully so you do not miss any details.

  For example, if the ad notes that you should submit a hand written cover letter, ensure that your cover letter is hand written. Sometimes employers make small but out of the ordinary requests in their job ads (such as asking for a hand written cover letter) in order to assess whether you are detail oriented and take the time to understand and follow instructions precisely.

  If the ad says "no phone calls please" or "only those selected for an interview will be contacted", do not call the employer. Ignoring this type of instruction when you apply for jobs can mean you'll be immediately taken out of consideration for a job. Many employers feel that if you ignore instructions in their job ads, you will not follow instructions at work.
  

• When you submit your resume, do not fold or staple your resume. If your resume is two pages, employers usually like to look at the pages side by side. A folded resume will not sit flat on the employer's desk, and a stapled resume will simply be pulled apart. Both detract from the professional look of your resume.
  

• If you drop off your resume in person, dress to make a good impression. You may not meet the person who has the authority to hire you, but the person who accepts your resume will likely be asked to provide input regarding his or her impressions of the candidates.
  

• Do not submit your references page with your resume unless the employer has specifically asked you to do so. Employers who call references do so after an interview, so employers don't need your reference page until you are called for an interview.
  

• If you are given the option to drop off your resume, do submit it in person. You'll get an opportunity to meet some staff at the company, make a good impression and perhaps discover some more information about the company. Submitting your resume in person (when it's appropriate) shows initiative and can make a good impression on the employer.

  A former client of mine once told me about a job she applied to. The ad stated that resumes could be faxed or submitted in person. She decided to submit her resume in person.

  When she arrived at the office, she met the employer and handed her resume to him. He joked that he would add it to the pile of one hundred resumes that had been faxed to him that morning. He took a quick look at her resume and stated that out of all of the people who had applied for the job, she was the only one who took the time to come to his office and submit a resume in person. Because she showed initiative where others did not, he immediately scheduled her for a job interview.

  Showing just a bit of extra initiative that's above and beyond what other job seekers will do often helps you to get to the next stage in the hiring process.
  

• Submit your resume as early as possible. When jobs are advertised, employers are often overwhelmed by the number of resumes they receive. It's typically best to submit your resume quickly so they'll see it before they are exhausted from looking through piles of resumes. When you apply to new jobs, give yourself the time you need to write a great resume and cover letter, but do apply as soon as possible.

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