How to Write a Winning Online Resume

Having a well designed online resume is crucial in today's competitive online job search.

The internet has had a tremendous impact on the way we look for jobs and get hired. Recent research shows that about one third of job seekers are now finding their jobs through the Internet.

In the past, newspaper classified ads only reached job seekers in a given geographical area. The Internet on the other hand, reaches thousands of job seekers globally.

Any good job advertised on the Internet is bound to attract thousands of resumes from job seekers thousands of miles away.

So, in order to be successful, your resume would need to address, precisely, the company's needs as expressed in the job ad.

The Internet has also changed the way employers now screen resumes. A large percentage of employers are now using customized computer software to do the initial screening for specific keywords.

In order to succeed, when so many employers are using computer screening to short-list jobseekers, you need to have a winning resume using the same keywords that the employer uses to describe the job requirements.

Keywords

These are verbs (power verbs), nouns and phrases that identify those specific skills or/and experiences that employers consider important when hiring.

Computer software is used to screen online resumes and select those that match most of the required keywords.

Selecting Keywords

When building a list of keywords I would suggest you scan numerous job ads relating to your field of expertise, (including past ads), official job descriptions, and companies websites, to learn what the companies' core activities are. This will enable you to build a very effective keyword list from which to choose for your resume.

Text Format

Do use a plain-text format in your resume, and avoid attachments as computer viruses are often spread via e-mail attachments.

Subject Heading

Use attention-grabbing, descriptive headlines for your resume, rather than bland headings such as "Summary of Experience", "Profile", or worse "Resume of..." Try subjects like "Award-Winning Designer", or "Qualified and Experienced Motor Mechanic", etc.

Online Resume Competition is Tough

The online job search competition for the better jobs is extremely tough. So, in order to survive in this competitive online job market, you need a winning resume online.