How to Submit Your Resume to Employers
You’ve worked extremely hard to create a resume that highlights your strengths and presents you as a strong employment candidate. Now what? Should you just start blindly throwing it out there to potential employers, or is there a method to the madness?
Here are four rules you’ll want to keep in mind when you start submitting your resume to employers.
1. Start by posting your resume to career websites
There’s a lot of value in posting your resume to the many career websites that are available. LiveCareer is a premier job hunting website that can help you to get your resume just right and then present it to potential employers.
When you submit your resume to career sites, be sure to fill in all of the associated information that the site asks for. This will make sure that employers who are looking for someone like you will see your resume.
Career websites also have listings of available jobs that allow you to submit your resume. Use the search functions on these career websites to find job listings that you can submit to and get your resume seen by employers.
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2. Submit a resume to a company that hasn’t solicited your information
Proactive job hunters will get on the internet and start looking for companies that are familiar. For example, if you’re a computer sales professional then you might scan Dell’s website for job openings.
This is actually a great way to submit your resume to companies that you’ve always wanted to work for. Remember that a job hunter has to make their own success if they want to find the job of their dreams.
Each website will have a series of instructions on how to submit your resume. Most websites will ask you to fill out an extensive application and then submit your resume.
3. Email your resume to potential employers
The first rule to a successful job hunt is to never email your resume blindly to a generic email address. For one thing, your resume will probably just get discarded by the receptionist, or whoever checks that email address. Another problem with blindly emailing your resume is that you have no idea if the company accepts attachments or not.
Each company website will indicate whether they accept emailed resumes or not, and if they accept attachments. The firewalls on some company computer networks filter out attachments, which is why the company doesn’t accept them. Read the instructions and see how the company wants your email formatted.
If the company doesn’t accept attachments, then cut and paste your resume and cover letter into the email message. If it does accept attachments, then always send a PDF of your resume. Microsoft Word files can sometimes get corrupted between different versions of Word.
4. Mailing a paper resume
If you’re answering an employment advertisement that requests that you send a paper resume to a specific address, then follow the instructions carefully. If you’re canvassing potential employers and think that sending a paper resume via postal mail is a novelty that will get the hiring manager’s attention, then you’re probably wrong.
Unless a company website or a job listing specifically asks for you to mail a paper resume, then your best bet is to use email. If you do use paper, then use a professional bond paper in a neutral color. Flashy resume paper is sure to get your resume ignored.
Submit your resume and wait for the call
Submitting resumes is sometimes a numbers game. But you can improve your chances by using the resources on LiveCareer. The site’s award-winning Resume Builder, Resume Checker, and Cover Letter Builder will all help you to put together a winning resume.
