How to Post a Resume Online and Make it Stand Out

Posting résumés online is a relatively new trend. It wasn’t long ago when prospective job applicants scoured classified ads, circled job possibilities with a big red marker, and started eagerly pounding their résumés away on manual and electric typewriters. Back then, “good” résumés consisted of one short page, fine linen paper, and a watermark placed in just the right position.

My, how times have changed. Typewriters are virtually obsolete, classified ads are found online, and résumés are no longer carefully wrapped in fine envelopes, sealed, and mailed off into the corporate netherworld. No, today the savvy job seeker must turn to the Internet if he is to be a viable candidate in today’s market. Posting résumés online today is almost expected.

With nearly 137 million adults using the Internet on a daily basis, it’s no wonder that corporations are turning there as well. After all, the Internet offers a wide range of possibilities in a short amount of time—for both job seekers and employers alike. Gone are the days of calculating mail time (Did my résumé get there yesterday?), turnaround time (If the boss gets this Friday, that means he’ll most likely read it Monday…), and postage rates (What DOES a stamp cost now, anyway?). No, with 53% of U.S. household having “high speed” connections, the time it takes to post a résumé is now quicker than ever. However, just as with “real” résumés, understanding a few guidelines about posting your résumé online is vital to your success—and to getting noticed in the sea of online résumé postings.

Apply Directly With the Company

Do you already have a list of companies that you want to work for? Then go directly to them. Often, large (and even small) companies will have websites for prospective employees. If the company you are interested in has a posting for which you are qualified, then apply for that job and post your résumé. If not, don’t be deterred. Oftentimes, companies will scour résumés that have been posted when new jobs open up. Who knows? Yours might get noticed.

Use a Search Engine

Having a hard time sifting through the limitless number of prospective employers? Let job sites help with your search. Job sites serve as a search engine for jobs, and get results from numerous job sites and employers. Job sites search jobs directly from many employers and combined search more than 5 times the number of jobs as the largest job board. Post a résumé on one of these sites, and you up your chances of being noticed immediately.

Use Online Classified Ads

Okay, so circling these ads with red marker will definitely not be good for your computer monitor. That said; don’t dismiss newspaper classifieds as obsolete. Oftentimes, newspapers will post classifieds online, with résumé boards as well. Use them, as these boards are used more locally, and may turn up jobs closer to home.

Sign Up for Email Alerts

Looking for a job can be tiring enough without taking time to keep searching job boards over and over. Nowadays, prospective employees can sign up for email alerts to have job openings “delivered” right to you. Popular job sites offer email alerts. Likewise, many online classifieds will email you when job openings are posted that match your résumé.

Use Key Words

Okay, so you’ve posted your résumé with every website you can find. It’s clear, short, and to the point. You’ve got a wonderful experience and work experience to back it up. Despite all this, no one calls, your email box remains empty, and the postman doesn’t even remember your address.

Chances are, you didn’t use “key words” in your résumé. What are key words? Just like you may use key words to find information using a web search engine, job recruiters and managers use key words to sift through the limitless supply of résumés the receive. If your résumé has the, you get noticed. Don’t use them, however, and your résumé is bound to float in cyberspace for ages.

Don’t despair. Figuring out what key words to use is very simple. For example, if a job posting says, “Looking for managers capable of multi-tasking and motivating others. Must be team-oriented.” Bingo! The employer has just defined what is important; now use it to your advantage. “Team,” “manager,” “multi-tasking,” and “motivate” would make great key words to use in your résumé to garner attention. Use them and you are more likely to get noticed.

It’s Who You Know

In this age of modern technology, it’s easy to forget that personal interaction can never replace impersonal résumés floating on a white screen. Posting your résumé, personal information, and cover letter are not enough to put you ahead of the game.

Do you know someone who already works for the company to which you are applying? Mention them in your cover letter. Better yet, find out from that person EXACTLY who looks over résumés. Then email, mail, or call that person to find out if they have any additional questions about your résumé, etc…

If you don’t already know someone “inside,” then do a little digging. Make some phone calls or research online to find out who is responsible for hiring. Just like in the olden days of yore, making an inside connection is often vital to getting noticed—and getting hired. As proof, keep this in mind: Referred candidates have a 35 to 1 chance of getting hired. Don’t have a referral or inside connection? Your chances are now 500 to 1. Truly, cyberspace is still no replacement for human interaction.

Read Next: How To Write A Killer Resume