Almost all applicants who submit their resumes by email, name the files “resume.txt” and “resume.doc”. This presents a problem for those who must deal with these files on the receiving end. As you may well know dealing with large numbers of files that all have exactly the same file name can create storage problems. Each must be stored in a separate directory to avoid conflict problems and make retrieval efficient.

Why not make it much simpler and easier for the recruiter by naming your resume file with both your last name and also your job title.

This will facilitate easy storage and more importantly make it simpler and easier for the recruiter to locate your particular file and also locate all the files that pertain to one single job title classification.

Instead of resume.doc you could use “JohnSmith-MarketingDirector.doc”.

A prominent recruiter told me that he really appreciates it when applicants include such critical information in their file names, though sadly very few applicants use this helpful tactic.

Resume Objective Line Usage

Include an objective line in your resume only if it includes a very specific job title. An overly broad objective that blandly states that you are searching for a rewarding position in the computer industry is worthless and occupies critical space that could be much more effectively used for other more strategic purposes. It may also confuse computerized resume scanning software.
 

Finding the Right Job Title For Your Resume

Always use the most widely accepted job title for a certain position. If there are two or more possible job titles being used, search for each in a major search engine (like Google) and take note of the number of sites found for each one. In this way you can quickly determine the single most popular title for any position. You may, however, want to list the top two in your objectives statement to enhance your likelihood of coming up in a database search - if the search results are similar.
 

Career Planning Keywords

Load your cover letter with keywords that reflect your future career intentions. If you’re looking to eventually become a CPA and move into tax planning for a major manufacturer, include that in your cover letter and be sure to use the most widely accepted industry language.
 

Past Employer Designations

If you’ve worked for a little-known employer whose business isn’t obvious from it’s name or isn’t well known, include a brief phrase after the firm’s name to explain which industry it’s involved in.

Acme United Inc. - a manufacturer of digital cardiac monitoring systems,…
 

Avoid Long Cover Letters

Keep your cover letter short and sweet. Resist the temptation to write a long and wordy biography. No one cares about the drama that is your life. Most recruiters will scan your resume for from 10-30 seconds and make a snap decision on whether or not they’ll consider working with you. If you pass that test, the recruiter may go on to also give your cover letter a quick read.
 

Long Term Career Planning

What Headhunters Are REALLY Looking For...

Ideally, your resume should present a picture of increasing responsibility coupled with increasing salary levels. Recruiters will wonder about you if they don’t see that desired progression.
 

Salary Range...

Most applicants will include a salary range rather than a single figure on their cover letter. Your headhunter will need this information.

But always avoid providing that information to anyone else without your headhunter’s permission.
 

Your presentation resume should include plenty of white space. A crammed resume with long paragraphs instead of bullet lists makes for a tedious read and headhunters will find them difficult and tiresome.

They have a saying in resume preparation - "white is green" meaning the more white space you show on your resume - the more green you'll earn later.
 

Mixed Fonts on Your Resume

As most resumes are scanned into databases these days, having more than one font can confuse the scanning software and get your resume ignored.

Avoid "Functional" Resumes

While functional resumes can be helpful for those who are changing careers, others who are established in their field should carefully avoid using them as they appear to offer too many possibilities for hiding work history gaps.