How to create an ASCII resume

Once you’ve written a scannable resume, it’s very easy to convert it to a keyword format, for use on the Internet. Your keyword resume will have two main uses.

Send it by e-mail to employers who have requested your resume.
Upload it to employment Web sites, where it can be seen by employers and recruiters around the world (a list of these sites is given below).

To create a keyword resume, follow these directions:

1. Open your original resume in your word processor (if you’ve already created a scannable resume, use this).
2. Save the resume as text only; this will turn it into a plain ASCII text format, suitable for use on the Internet. Now close the resume.
3. Open it up again and add a keyword section.
   
   Example keywords: manager, managing, management, BS Computer Science, mainframes, programming, programmer. See example keyword resumes in Appendix II for more details.

The example keyword resumes in Appendix II include one, from Bill Davis, that resulted in about 100 e-mails from recruiters and employers. Sally Jones’ keyword resume was seen by an employer who immediately flew her across the country for a job interview.

Now, here’s how to upload your keyword resume to employment sites on the Internet. Your resume will then be available to thousands of recruiters and employers!

Follow the directions at each site to copy and paste the text of your keyword resume into their resume databases.
There’s no charge, but some sites will ask you to create a user account. Point your Web browser to:
Head Hunter
Recruiters online (click on Job Seekers)
Monster (click on Resume)
Job Options (click on Post Your Resume)
Hot Jobs (click on Apply Online)

While there are hundreds of sites that accept resumes, these are among the best and will give you excellent exposure.
You’ll have to create a user account at each site, but there’s no charge for this. Just follow the instructions at each site and your resume will be online in minutes.