Best Format for Resume Attachment

Most employers prefer that you send your resume as an MS Word document because MS Word docs can can easily be input into recruiting database systems for keyword searches, storage, sorting, and distribution.

Send your MS Word resume as a .doc (not a .docx) version. In other words, don't assume the recruiter or manager is using MS Word 2007, which generates a .docx file. By saving your resume in the earlier version of Word, you ensure that it can be opened and read by someone using any version of Word.

Here's a reprint of my instructions (from an earlier post, Resume Attachment to Email) for making sure your attachment is in the correct version.

If you're a Word 2007 user, save your resume document to an earlier version. Here's how:
1. Click the Office Button (the colorful logo in a circle found in the upper left corner of your MS Word window).
2. Select Save As.
3. Select Word 97-2003 document.
That will convert the document to a .doc file, which can be opened and read by any employer, no matter which version of Word he uses.

If you use a version of Word that's earlier than 2007, you don't have to do any conversion. Just attach the .doc file of your resume to your email.

List of Top Job Search Lists

Lately, there have a lot of "Best Of" lists for job search information. Here are two I find particularly comprehensive and well organized.

Top 20 LinkedIn Groups ALL Job Seekers MUST Join by CareerRocketeer.com

The 101+ Best Job Search/Career Twitter Accounts by Job-Hunt.org

Know of more lists? Add them under comments!

When NOT to List Volunteerism on Resume

Question
What is the best way to identify your community/philanthropic leadership experience on your resume? This question was asked on LinkedIn. The questioner held an executive volunteer position and a full-time job at the same time. She worries that if she lists both her paid and volunteer work in her work history, it will be confusing because the two "jobs" were concurrent.

My Answer
It depends on what your job objective is. If your volunteer experience is more relevant to your objective, consider listing your volunteer experience in your work history section instead of your paid experience (without saying it was volunteer). If your paid experience is more relevant, list the paid experience in the work history section and mention your volunteer work elsewhere on your resume. In other words, list one or the other in the work history section, but not both. (Remember, you're resume is not a tell-all document. As long as everything on your resume is true, you can omit information if doing so markets you better for the job.)

One problem with listing both experiences as concurrent "occupations": it could look confusing. Here's the other problem: A potential employer will assume that you'll continue your intense volunteer work once he employs you. That means, he won't get 100% of your energy and attention. An employer may not want to share you with another organization, unless it somehow benefits him.

Sometimes it's best to keep things simple on the resume, and explain details in person at the interview. This might be one of those cases.

Only One College Course on Resume

Question
I have been in bindery work for the last eleven years, and I am applying for a new job in the same line of work. I took one year of Accounting at a college. Should I put this on the resume, or is it better to leave it out?

Answer
If you have no college degree, then you should list your accounting class something like this:

Education
Accounting, Name of College, City, State

Notice, there is no date included in this presentation; and there's no mention of a degree. You're simply saying you attended college, and accounting was your area of study.

Putting this on your resume shows that you graduated from high school (without listing your high school diploma), and demonstrates that you're someone who enjoys learning, even if it's not related to your work in the bindery.

If you have a college degree, list the degree on your resume but don't list the accounting class, as it might lead the employer to think that you intend to make a career change into accounting within the next few years. Thinking that, he might prefer to hire someone else for the bindery job.

Networking a Job Fair

Brick and mortar career fairs still exist, and they're worth attending for their face-to-face value. In this video, Patra Frame tells us how to prepare for a job fair, and how to work it to your advantage.