The process of submitting a resume has evolved over time. Job seekers once spent hours selecting the perfect font and buying fancy paper with matching envelopes. Today, many employers prefer to receive resumes by fax or e-mail. Companies also invest in resume scanning programs, such as Resumix , which scan paper resumes for keywords and extract data into a searchable database. This means that fancy fonts, colored paper and special formatting can sometimes hurt your resume rather than help it.
Current trends encourage resumes that are professional, but simple and easy to read.
For scanner-friendly resumes, consult these helpful hints from Southeast Missouri State University. Chronological resumes, the most common type, are for people with a solid work history and consistent professional growth. Functional resumes emphasize skills and responsibilities and are good for people who have had periods of unemployment or switch careers often. A combination resume can be useful if you have a consistent work history, but want to change careers or emphasize particular skills and experiences. For samples and more information on each, visit ResumeTutor .