The computer will assume the first text it reads is your name. If you turn in a resume at a job fair, make sure the sponsors do not place a sticker with their name on it at the top of your resume - ask them to place it on the bottom or back. They will search for key words, usually nouns such as writer, manager and biologist as opposed to verbs such as managed, organized, engineered, etc. It is important to describe your experience with descriptive nouns rather than verbs or vague descriptions. Printing and Paper Always send a clear, original laser-printed resume for scanning purposes.
Photocopies can sometimes add black marks or lighten up the text beyond optical recognition.
Never use a nine-dot matrix printer. Use a light colored, standard size 8.5 X 11 paper, printed on one side only. Aim for the highest contrast between paper and ink. If you use more than one page, make sure your name appears at the top of each. Avoid stapling the pages of a resume together - use a paper clip.