Transcript How to Look for a Job Online - NTLP

www.twdl.org
How to Look for a Job Online
Carolyn Davidson Brewer
Assistant Director
North Texas Library Partners
Resume Versions to Prepare
•Print Version: designed with bulleted lists, italicized text, and other highlights,
ready to print and mail or hand to potential contacts and interviewers.
•Scan-able Version: a less-designed version without the fancy design highlights.
Bulleted lists are fine, but that's about the limit.
•Plain Text Version: a plain text file ready to copy and paste into online forms or
post in online resume databases. This might also be referred to as a Text-Only
copy.
•E-mail Version: another plain text copy, but this one is specifically formatted for
the length-of-line restrictions in e-mail. This is also a Text-Only copy.
This is the same document presented in four ways, each formatted for a specific
delivery purpose.
Keywords
Just below your name, create a Keyword section (like the other sections in your
résumé: Education, Experience, etc.). List discipline-unique words and phrases
potential employers can search for in the résumé database. For example,
keywords for a business professional might include the following:
Leadership skills
Ethics
Finance
Teamwork
Marketing
Total quality management
Keywords for a computer programmer would include software applications and
programming languages s/he has used:
C++
Java
Flash
CSS
XHTML
Step 1: Save Your MS Word Resume as Plain Text.
A Plain Text document works best for an electronic resume because you can adjust
the margins and formatting to suit the database or email system in which you are
working. To convert your MS Word resume to Plain Text, do the following:
1.Open the MS Word document that contains your resume.
2.Click the Office button (the logo in the upper left corner of your MS Word
window).
3.Click Save As and select Other Formats.
4.4. At the bottom of the window that pops up on your screen, type in a new
name for this document in the File Name field, such as "ResPlainText."
5.Under this is the Save As Type pull-down menu. Scroll down this list to select
"Plain Text (*.txt)."
6.Click Save to perform the conversion.
7. Click OK without changing any of the settings.
Step 2: Delete references to page two.
Step 3: Use all CAPS for words that need special emphasis.
Step 4: Replace each bullet point with a standard keyboard symbol.
Asterisks (*)
Applying Through Email
Getting your email opened, read, and actually considered really comes down to
some simple rules.
•Use the right Subject.
•Include a cover letter in your email and address it to the recipient.
•Always send your resume in the body of the e-mail message, not as an attachment.
•Make sure your resume is properly formatted for e-mail.
•If responding to an advertisement, read the application instructions and follow
them.
•Always remember: It only takes a second for someone to delete an e-mail message.
Job Search Sites
There are thousands, if not millions, of job search sites
on the Internet. This is just a sampling and often a good
place to start. When you have the option, be sure and
search by location or keyword.
•workintexas.com
•texasjobs.com
•indeed.com (Texas)
•jobsearch.com (Texas)
•careerbuilder.com (Texas)
•hound.com
•monster.com
•net-temps.com
•simplyhired.com
•usajobs.gov (US Federal Government)
Remember to Follow Their
Instructions
For every one job opening –
employers receive on average 100
applications
Questions?
Let’s Look for Jobs!
www.twdl.org