Understanding what content you should use for submitting a resume is just as important as submitting  your resume in a readable format.

Depending on your job type and how you apply, either online or in person or through the snail mail, the format of your documents is important. Different Job Titles will require additional information and the file types that you send in your resume should be generic enough that most computers can handle them.

If you are applying for a job online the HR manager should include acceptable formats that you can send. The simplest format is when a business provides an online form that lets you fill in all of the things that they look for in applicant resumes.  Online forms provide an easy method of reading and storage for the business. Data is usually kept in a database and then reviewed by the HR Staff in a formatted preview.

The next format you might submit is a plain text E-Mail. Plain Text means that you do not use a graphical email application that will let you change the Type or other format characteristics. This is important because you do not know what software the business will have when reading your resume.

If the business allows other formats you should provide your documents with only basic format settings. For instance if a business says they would like to have your documents in Microsoft Word format and you just installed the new version of Word that came out last week you should send your document in the most recent previous file format version so you know they can read the document you are sending them.

You should also stay away from including embedded images, spreadsheets, using nonstandard system fonts and other add-ons. 

PDF format is another option that many businesses accept and this format is better suited when you want to include special formatting. To make a PDF document you can install an export utility that will sit between your Software Application and your Printer and when you print your documents using the PDF Printer Driver a PDF file will be made instead of the document printing on your laser printer.

PDF Creator is a free PDF File maker
http://www.pdfforge.org/products/pdfcreator

Sending your files
For the most part you will be attaching your documents to an email.
The email you send with your documents should include a description of the attached files.

Ziping or Raring your files into a single archive can be good to save on size but this should only be done if the Business has approved this. You never know what Archive software that they may have available and even if there are free applicationsto read these formats you can not expect that every Business will have the ability to install software on their systems. Many Companies restrict user desktops and disallow installing of software for security reasons.

If you will be mailing a disk you should use a CDR not a DVD disk. Although most new computers have the ability to read DVD disks you may find that an older business computer only has a CDR drive. For this reason if you send a CDR disk it can be read by either a DVD or CDR drive. You should never send a Rewritable Disk because very often Rewritable Disks can not be read by other computers. It is also suggested that you stay away from proprietary software like NERO that can often burn disks that are unreadable by other systems.

For Free CDR DVD Software you can try
http://cdrtfe.sourceforge.net/

Sending Backup Copies within your Original Messages
Because you are sending different formats of files to someone that you don’t know it is good to provide a second copy of your documents within the same document set.

Now you are saying WHAT?

Yes what you can do is provide the PDF or MS Word documents and then include a text only version within the main body of your Email or provide a printed out short version with your disk that you send by snail mail.

Simply copy past text to the bottom of your email that includes an abbreviated version including your name, address, phone and list some of your highlights as you would do in any cover letter. List your education and previous employers if you feel this is very necessary and some qualifications.

This way you know that at least the main portions of your resume will be available.

If an employer asks for a MS Word Document and you do not own MS Word you can use WordPad that comes with Windows to edit a basic .doc file or you can download OpenOffice a free application that can read and write MS Word Files. If you don’t have it you should get it.

You can get OpenOffice Here http://www.openoffice.org/

Final Word
So now that you are ready to Email your document set to your prospective employer and you have double checked everything for spelling and grammar you should do a test email to yourself just to make sure the files will send ok.

If you don’t have a second email address get one at www.gmail.com Google’s Gmail can send and receive from your Pop3 and Imap Email Software or you can use their online WebMail.

Once you have sent the information you will want to make sure that you delete the files from your sent folder on the server and when you receive private information from an employer you should download it then make sure you empty the trash on the server. Don’t make it a habit of leaving lots of personal information online on your mail server whether it is a Gmail Hotmail or your own Personal Server it is never good practice to leave this info online.

Also you should never send your Social Security Numbers online. If they are intercepted this is one problem but if someone at the business you send them to mismanages their side and leaves them in an insecure area you open yourself up for problems. Always tell the employer that they can call you and get your Social Security number or better yet that you will provide it at time of Hire because Social Security numbers are supposetobe reserved only for tax reasons not background checks.

Look for other JobZoneUSA HowTo information on writing resumes and checkout our sample resumes and cover letters.