Patent Publication Number: US-2009234669-A1

Title: Automated Resume Evaluation System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/238,950 filed Sep. 28, 2005 entitled Automated Résumé Evaluation System; and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/614,133 filed Sep. 28, 2004 entitled Automated Résumé Evaluation System, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commonly, job seekers have pursued job opportunities by submitting their résumé to prospective employers. Typically, a résumé seeks to inform a potential employer about the job seeker&#39;s skills, education, and job history. 
     While a job seeker may posses a skill set highly valued by potential employers, often these job seekers lack the ability to effectively communicate this information within their résumé. In other words, even the best-qualified candidate for a job can be overlooked if they submit a poorly written résumé. 
     In some situations, dozens of job seekers will submit their résumés for a single position. The increasing popularity of internet job boards such as Monster.com and Hotjobs.com has further increased the typical number of résumé submissions for a position into the hundreds. 
     At most, potential employers or recruiters reviewing the résumés for the position will spend only a few seconds on the initial review of each résumé to determine if the job seeker possesses any of the necessary qualifications for the job opening. If they do not immediately see the information they are looking for or if they find mistakes such as typographical errors or formatting problems, the résumé will often be immediately discarded. 
     Unfortunately, many job seekers are unaware of the shortcomings of their résumé. Currently, the best method for a job seeker to validate their résumé and understand its strengths and weaknesses is to enlist the help of a professional who possesses a good understanding of an effective résumé. However, these résuméprofessionals rarely begin reviewing résumé immediately and can sometimes take days. Further, their fees for the review service can be expensive, especially for a job seeker who has been unemployed for a particular length of time. 
     What is needed is a method of evaluating a job seeker&#39;s résumé that can provide feedback more quickly and with less expense than current résumé professionals. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of more quickly evaluating résumés. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of evaluating résumés with less expense. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of evaluating résumés without the need for a person to review the contents of the résumé. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an automated résuméevaluation system. 
     In one preferred embodiment according to the present invention, an automated résumé evaluation system is provided which accepts résumés in an electronic file format, evaluates or validates those résumés according to a predetermined set of rules, then provides correspondence based on the outcome of the predetermined rules, which is sent back to the résumé submitter. Preferably, this predetermined set of rules is based on research, interviews, and surveys into the needs and desires of potential employers and recruiters. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a flow chart of a preferred embodiment of an automated résumé evaluation method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a diagram of a preferred embodiment of a résumé evaluation system according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a flow chart of another preferred embodiment of an automated résumé evaluation method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a résumé submission webpage according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a résumé submitted in a preferred embodiment according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a database entry created according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a résumé evaluation correspondence created according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an automated résumé evaluation system which automatically accepts an electronic résumé from a user, evaluates that résumé for problems, and then communicates those problems as well as related advice back to the user. In this respect, the user receives automated feedback on their résumé without the need for costly and time-consuming human analysis. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a preferred embodiment of an automated résuméevaluation system  100  according to the present invention which provides an automated evaluation of a submitted résumé without that résumé being reviewed by another person. 
     As shown in step  110 , a job seeker submits an electronic résumé  102  from a computer  101  to a remote server  103  over a communications network such as the internet. Preferably, the electronic résumé  102  is in a commonly used electronic format such as a Microsoft Word document, a text rich document, a text document, or an HTML document. While the electronic résumé  102  is preferably sent by a commonly used communication format such as email, FTP, HTTP or instant message, other transfer methods are also contemplated, such as by floppy disk, CD, or USB flash drive. 
     Since the remote server  103  may accept a large number of résumés, each electronic résumé  102  is preferably assigned a unique filename. For example, the filename may consist of a number based on the date of submission and additional random digits (e.g. YYYYMMDDHHMMSS+6 random digits.DOC). This unique file name also facilitates associating additional information with the electronic résumé  102 , such as the job seeker&#39;s name, email address, original résumé filename, submittal date, unique filename, demographic information, and technical information regarding the job seeker&#39;s experience. 
     Next, the electronic résumé  102  is analyzed for problems, as shown in step  112 . While the analysis does not require that the electronic résumé  102  be converted to a specific electronic file format, such a conversion may decrease the complexity of the analysis program by reducing unnecessary data in the electronic document. This document simplification can therefore increase the reliability of the software to open and accurately analyze the contents of electronic résumé  102 . 
     For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates file format conversion  104  that converts the electronic résumé  102  into Plain ASCII Text format  106  and Rich Text Format  105 . In this regard, one representation is created that only contains the underlying text of the original electronic résumé  102  and lacks any pictures, embedded document data, or formatting such as bold text, italic text, or line spacing. The other representation retains the formatting of the original electronic résumé  102  in the relatively simple Rich Text Format, thereby simplifying the task of identifying which formatting and markup characteristics are present. Thus, the representation  105  in Rich Text Format can be analyzed for problems relating to formatting while the representation  106  in Plain ASCII Text format can be analyzed for problems relating to the content of the text of the electronic résumé  102 . Preferably, both representations  105  and  106  are preferably separate files, however additional configurations are possible, such as storing both representations  105  and  106  in a single file, such as within a database. 
     Once any desired file conversions are performed on the electronic résumé  102 , the automated résumé evaluation system  100  searches the document or documents for predetermined characteristics. In other words, the electronic résumé  102  is compared against a predetermined group of résumé rules. Preferably, these characteristics or rules may relate to aspects of the electronic résumé  102  that positively or negatively impact the effectiveness of the job seeker&#39;s résumé in communicating necessary information to a potential employer. For example, issues relating to text content, formatting, layout, and file naming may be analyzed. 
     When a predetermined characteristic is found, a corresponding response is retrieved from a table of predetermined responses  107 , as seen in step  114 . These responses preferably offer commentary, criticism, and other tips relating to the identified predetermined characteristic. Both the afore-mentioned characteristics and responses are discussed in greater detail later in this specification. 
     As indicated by step  116 , the predetermined responses from table  107  are assembled into an evaluation message  108  which is converted into a final message and delivered back to the job seeker as indicated in step  118 . For example, the predetermined responses are preferably assembled in the form of a traditional letter format, addressed to the job seeker, then converted to an email message which is sent to the job seeker&#39;s email address. Alternately, the evaluation message  108  may be printed to paper and sent via U.S. Mail, or by an alternative delivery service. Additionally, the evaluation message  108  may be converted to a cellular phone text message and sent to the job seeker&#39;s phone. On the other hand, the evaluation message may also be presented on a web page. 
     In this respect, the automated résumé evaluation system  100  accepts a job seeker&#39;s electronic résumé  102 , analyzes the résumé, then provides feedback on the electronic résumé  102  without human analysis. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate another preferred embodiment of an automatic résumé evaluation method according to the present invention. As indicated in step  128 , the job seeker submits his or her electronic résumé  126 , the example textual content of which can be seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     This submission is preferably facilitated by a résumé submission web page  160 , which can be seen in  FIG. 4 . The résumé submission web page  160  is an electronic internet page that is programmed with such languages as Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) or Active Server Pages, which can be viewed in a web browser. 
     The résumé submission web page  160  includes a résumé location text box  168  which provides a text box to manually input the location of the electronic résumé  126 , such as on a hard drive of the job seeker&#39;s computer, or alternately browse to the location of the electronic résumé  126 , causing the location to be automatically entered. In addition, the résumé submission web page  160  includes text boxes for providing additional data that may assist the résumé evaluation. For example, the job seeker&#39;s name is requested in text boxes  162 , the job seeker&#39;s email is requested in text boxes  164  and  166 . Additionally, the job seeker is requested to select a category in pull down box  170  that best describes their job background (e.g. administrative, medical, legal), their current job title in pull down box  172 , and their current career level in pull down box  174 . This additional information about the job seeker can be utilized during the evaluation to provide more accurate and relevant evaluation response. Alternatively, the résumé may be submitted via other mechanisms, such as by way of an email attachment or in the body of an email message. 
     Once the requested information has been provided on the résumé submission web page  160 , the job seeker&#39;s information and electronic résumé  126  is uploaded to a remote server. As seen in step  130 , a software module (i.e. a software program or part of a software program) examines the electronic résumé  126  to determine if it conforms to one of the document formats known to it, such as a Microsoft Word format or a Word Perfect format. For example, the type of document format may be determined by examining the extension of the document filename (i.e. “.doc”), or by examining the binary contents of the electronic file for known file format characteristics. 
     As described in step  132 , the filename of the electronic résumé  126  is renamed to a unique file name. This is especially important since many job seekers may submit electronic résumés  126  with the same name, such as “résumé.doc”. To minimize the possibility of renaming the electronic résumé  126  to previously generated filename, the new résumé filename includes numbers derived from the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of the submission of the electronic résumé  126  and further includes 6 additional randomly generated numbers. Thus, this naming scheme can facilitate handling a high number of electronic résumé submissions by ensuring that every submitted electronic résumé  126  will be assigned a unique filename. 
     Additionally, as described in step  134 , another software module creates an entry in a job seeker database to store data about the job seeker and the job seeker&#39;s electronic résumé  126 .  FIG. 6  illustrates a representation of an example database entry  180 . This database entry  180  includes some of the job seeker&#39;s information submitted through the résumé submission web page  160 , such as the job seeker&#39;s name, email address, original filename of the electronic résumé  126 , career level, and job title. Additional information relevant to the submission is also included, such as the date submitted and the IP address of the computer from which the electronic résumé  126  was submitted. Further, as the résumé evaluation continues, evaluation data and evaluation messages can be stored in the database entry  180 , which will be used to create a résumé evaluation message. 
     Step  136  of  FIG. 3A  describes how the electronic résumé  126  is opened. Typically, when a computer file, such as the electronic résumé  126 , is “opened” by a software program, this includes loading the contents of the document into the memory of the computer where it can be accessed and manipulated by that software program. 
     As described in step  138 , a résumé rule database is opened, allowing access to a plurality of rules relating to the formatting, layout, and textual content of a résumé. Preferably, these rules are created based on research, interviews, and surveys into the needs and frustrations of hiring and recruiting professionals. Specific examples of these résumés rules can be found further on in this specification. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 3B , the electronic résumés  126  is converted into a Rich Text Format Markup Language and a Text Only Format, as indicated in step  140 . As previously described, conversion into a Rich Text Format Markup Language allows the document to be easily compared to a rule related to formatting and layout while conversion into a Text Only Format allows the document to be easily compared against a rule relating to the text content. 
     As step  142  indicates, a first rule from the résumé rule database is selected and compared to the appropriate version of the converted electronic résumés  126  (i.e. the electronic résumé  126  in Text Only Format or the in Rich Text Format). For example, one rule might search for the use of graphics or pictures within the electronic résumé  126 . The outcome to this rule, as seen in step  144 , is stored in the previously described entry  180  in the job seeker database of  FIG. 6  for later use in constructing an evaluation message. 
     Once the outcome of the résumé rule is recorded in the job seeker database, the software module on the server determines if additional résumé rules are present in the résumé rule database, as seen in step  146 . If an additional résumé rule is present, steps  142  and  144  are repeated until all résumé rules have been compared against the electronic résumé  126 . 
     Each résumé rule is associated with one or more rule responses, preferably within the same résumé rule database, which provides feedback, criticism, or other comments. In some cases, only a single rule response is desired for a particular rule. For example, a résumé rule that looks for the undesirable presence of a table within the electronic résumé  126  may only require a rule response when such a table is present, but does not necessarily require a response when a table is not present. In other cases, multiple rule response may be desired for a particular rule. For example, a résumé rule that looks for an email address within the electronic résumé  126  may include one response commending when the email address is included, and another response highlighting the need to include an email address when the email address is not included. 
     Next, as indicated in step  146 , the rule responses determined for a particular electronic résumé  126  are joined together in a single temporary electronic representation (e.g. data within memory or text stored within a database entry). Preferably, these rule responses are arranged in a desired order, enhancing the flow and logical progression. For example, the responses relating to formatting of the electronic résumé  126  can be presented first, while content related comments can be arranged to follow. 
     Next, selected personal data from the database entry  180  in the job seeker database is integrated into the temporary electronic representation. For example, the job seeker&#39;s name may be added as a salutation within the temporary electronic document. 
     As presented in step  150 , a correspondence is generated that will be sent to the job seeker. This correspondence can be a blank email addressed to the job seeker, a text document that will be printed and sent by U.S. Mail, or a message that appears in a job seeker&#39;s web browser. The text of the temporary representation, i.e. the ordered rule responses and the integrated personal information are then copied into the correspondence document, as indicated in step  152 .  FIG. 7  illustrates such an email correspondence  182  which includes the text of the temporary document. Finally, as indicated in step  154 , the email correspondence  182  is delivered or communicated to the job seeker. In this respect, the job seeker receives the email correspondence  182  which includes feedback (i.e. rule responses) to their electronic résumé  126  without the need for human review of the electronic résumé  126 . 
     As previously discussed in this specification, predetermined résumé rules are automatically compared against a job seeker&#39;s résumé and the results of the résumé rule are used to select appropriate response to send back to the job seeker. Preferably, the résumé rules of a preferred embodiment of the résumé evaluation system apply conditional logic to the text, formatting and markup codes contained within the electronic résumé of the job seeker. Preferably, this conditional logic utilizes keyword searches and regular expression searches of the text and underlying formatting codes. Based on the positive or negative outcome of the keyword searches, it can be extrapolated that the electronic résumé either conforms with or violates one of the résumé rules. For example, if the electronic résumé contains the word “Objective” in the top ¼ of the résumé text, it can be assumed that the electronic résumé contains a “Career Objective”, which is undesirable to most recruiters and employers. 
     Some résumé rules utilize regular expression searching to model the syntax of the English language and therefore adapt to the many grammatical structures used in sentences. More specifically, regular expression searching typically utilizes symbols and syntax to match patterns in text. In this respect, a greater number of problematic sentences can be identified by including at least some grammatical structure within the search queries. An asterisk is commonly used with many search engines in this regard, for example letting a user search their computer for all word document by searching with the phrase “*.doc”. 
     In one example, vague sentences can be identified by creating a regular expression search, as seen in the sample Visual Basic code below. As seen, phrases such as “To find a meaningful job,” “To secure a great job,” and “To seek employment with a growth oriented company” would all be identified by this search and further, incorporated into the résumé rule response. 
     Example Résumé Rules 
     To further illustrate the résumé rules of the preferred embodiment described in this specification, sample résumé rules and the corresponding résumé rule responses are provided in Table 1 below. It should be understood that these example résumé rules can be coded as many different queries or expressions in a variety of different programming or scripting languages as is known in the art. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Résumé Rule Name 
                 Description 
                 Résumé Rule Response 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Uses Tables or Textboxes 
                 Electronic Résumés should 
                 ″for your layout makes your 
               
               
                 For Layout 
                 not use tables to layout text. 
                 résumé difficult to read on 
               
               
                   
                 This rule searches the 
                 the computer screen. 
               
               
                   
                 markup code of the 
                 Recruiters are not printing 
               
               
                   
                 document for the specific 
                 résumés out anymore, so 
               
               
                   
                 formatting commands that 
                 this is a big problem.″ 
               
               
                   
                 create these elements. 
               
               
                 Has Graphics and Pictures 
                 Graphics and pictures in 
                 ″It&#39;s very frustrating for hiring 
               
               
                   
                 résumés inflate the file size 
                 managers to read and 
               
               
                   
                 unnecessarily, cause 
                 manage résumés when they 
               
               
                   
                 technical problems when 
                 have graphical lines and 
               
               
                   
                 trying to post the document 
                 pictures on them. This can 
               
               
                   
                 online or in a database, and 
                 also cause a problem when 
               
               
                   
                 are unprofessional. This rule 
                 you paste your résumé on a 
               
               
                   
                 searches the markup code of 
                 job board or even when the 
               
               
                   
                 the document for the specific 
                 résumé is archived in an 
               
               
                   
                 formatting commands that 
                 employer&#39;s database.″ 
               
               
                   
                 indicate the presence of 
               
               
                   
                 pictures. 
               
               
                 Long and Dense Paragraphs 
                 A résumé must be clear and 
                 “Your résumé is too dense. 
               
               
                   
                 concise. Long and dense 
                 Long paragraphs are hard to 
               
               
                   
                 paragraphs are unlikely to be 
                 read, making it difficult for 
               
               
                   
                 read by a hiring professional. 
                 your reader to skim your 
               
               
                   
                 This rule parses out each 
                 résumé. Also, this makes it 
               
               
                   
                 paragraph in the document 
                 impossible to customize your 
               
               
                   
                 and checks to see if the 
                 résumé to each job posting 
               
               
                   
                 number of characters used 
                 you send it to. Keep in mind 
               
               
                   
                 in the paragraph exceeds 
                 that recruiters and hiring 
               
               
                   
                 the defined threshold. 
                 managers have only 5 to 10 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seconds to devote to each of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 the hundreds of résumés 
               
               
                   
                   
                 they get each day, so it is 
               
               
                   
                   
                 imperative that you use 
               
               
                   
                   
                 concise bullet-point phrases 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to communicate to your 
               
               
                   
                   
                 reader.” 
               
               
                 Long Résumé 
                 Hiring professionals greatly 
                 ″Recruiters receive hundreds 
               
               
                   
                 dislike long résumés. This 
                 of résumés for each job 
               
               
                   
                 rule evaluates the document 
                 posting, so they don&#39;t have 
               
               
                   
                 page length, determined 
                 time to read a few pages of 
               
               
                   
                 during the document RTF 
                 text just to figure out your 
               
               
                   
                 conversion process, and 
                 background. Try to keep it 
               
               
                   
                 checks to see if the length 
                 to two pages.″ 
               
               
                   
                 exceeds 3 pages. This rule 
               
               
                   
                 also considers a document 
               
               
                   
                 too long when it exceeds a 
               
               
                   
                 specified number of 
               
               
                   
                 characters used. 
               
               
                 Résumé Contains Vague 
                 A résumé should not contain 
                 Vague phrases like, 
               
               
                 Phrases 
                 vague and meaningless 
                 [Example Sentence 1] do not 
               
               
                   
                 phrases - it need to stick to 
                 communicate anything 
               
               
                   
                 the facts about a jobseeker&#39;s 
                 meaningful about your 
               
               
                   
                 tangible skills, 
                 background. Using more 
               
               
                   
                 accomplishments, and 
                 substantial language will do 
               
               
                   
                 background. This rule 
                 a much better job selling 
               
               
                   
                 determines if the résumé 
                 yourself as a candidate for 
               
               
                   
                 contains vague phrases by 
                 the job.″ 
               
               
                   
                 identifying a common type of 
               
               
                   
                 vague phrase used in the top 
               
               
                   
                 ¼ of many résumés. 
               
               
                 Vague Language 
                 A recent study shows that 
                 ″Words like [Example 
               
               
                   
                 over half of all résumés 
                 Words] are too generic and 
               
               
                   
                 contain vague and imprecise 
                 could be applied to nearly 
               
               
                   
                 language. A résumé must 
                 any job seeker out there. 
               
               
                   
                 stick to the tangible facts 
                 You would be much better 
               
               
                   
                 about a jobseeker&#39;s skills, 
                 off by getting right to the 
               
               
                   
                 accomplishments, and 
                 point and presenting your 
               
               
                   
                 background. The following 
                 skills and accomplishments, 
               
               
                   
                 rule contains a dictionary of 
                 because this type of 
               
               
                   
                 commonly used vague 
                 language will not sell you as 
               
               
                   
                 language and performs a 
                 a candidate for the job.″ 
               
               
                   
                 keyword search to determine 
               
               
                   
                 whether any of the keywords 
               
               
                   
                 are found. In the evaluation 
               
               
                   
                 response, the system cites 
               
               
                   
                 up to three of the vague 
               
               
                   
                 keywords found. 
               
               
                 First Person References in 
                 A résumé is a formal 
                 ″First person references 
               
               
                 Résumé 
                 business communications 
                 make your résumé much 
               
               
                   
                 and should not contain any 
                 more verbose than 
               
               
                   
                 first person references, such 
                 necessary. It&#39;s best to avoid 
               
               
                   
                 as “I am,” “I was,” “I have,” 
                 using words like ″″I am . . . ″″ 
               
               
                   
                 etc. This rule performs a 
                 and ″″I was . . . ″″ because you 
               
               
                   
                 regular expression search 
                 don&#39;t want your résumé to 
               
               
                   
                 for first person references. 
                 become a ″″what I did last 
               
               
                   
                 The rule also performs a 
                 summer essay.″″″ 
               
               
                   
                 keyword search for words 
               
               
                   
                 and phrases commonly 
               
               
                   
                 found in a cover letter. 
               
               
                   
                 Occasionally, job seekers 
               
               
                   
                 include a cover letter, in 
               
               
                   
                 which first person references 
               
               
                   
                 are acceptable, within the 
               
               
                   
                 same document as their 
               
               
                   
                 résumé. When a cover letter 
               
               
                   
                 is suspected, the appropriate 
               
               
                   
                 evaluation response is not 
               
               
                   
                 triggered. 
               
               
                 Poor Filename Choice 
                 In a recent study, over half of 
                 ″Naming your document 
               
               
                   
                 all résumé documents were 
                 [Résumé Filename] might 
               
               
                   
                 found to be named some 
                 work on your own computer, 
               
               
                   
                 minor variation of 
                 but imagine a recruiter 
               
               
                   
                 “Résumé.doc.” The problem 
                 getting hundreds of files per 
               
               
                   
                 is that recruiters and hiring 
                 day without their job seeker&#39;s 
               
               
                   
                 professionals receive 
                 names on them. Don&#39;t risk 
               
               
                   
                 hundreds of résumés per 
                 your résumé getting lost 
               
               
                   
                 day, creating numerous 
                 forever on a recruiter&#39;s hard 
               
               
                   
                 problems when they all have 
                 drive.″ 
               
               
                   
                 similar names. The best 
               
               
                   
                 advise is to put your full 
               
               
                   
                 name in the document 
               
               
                   
                 name. This rule performs a 
               
               
                   
                 regular expression search on 
               
               
                   
                 the document filename to 
               
               
                   
                 determine if it contains a 
               
               
                   
                 minor variation of 
               
               
                   
                 “Résumé.doc,” such as “My 
               
               
                   
                 Résumé.doc” or 
               
               
                   
                 “Résumé2.doc.” If that 
               
               
                   
                 search returns nothing, then 
               
               
                   
                 the rule next checks to see if 
               
               
                   
                 the job seeker&#39;s last name is 
               
               
                   
                 contained in the document 
               
               
                   
                 filename. 
               
               
                 Résumé format based on 
                 Occasionally, job seekers 
                 ″The biggest problem with 
               
               
                 skill function, instead of 
                 organize their résumé 
                 your résumé is that it&#39;s 
               
               
                 Chronological format 
                 according to job or skill 
                 impossible to figure out 
               
               
                   
                 function, instead of the 
                 WHERE and WHEN you did 
               
               
                   
                 traditional reverse 
                 the things described here. 
               
               
                   
                 chronological format. Hiring 
                 Employers want to see your 
               
               
                   
                 professionals greatly dislike 
                 skills and accomplishments 
               
               
                   
                 the functional format, 
                 in the context of where and 
               
               
                   
                 because it makes it 
                 when you did them.″ 
               
               
                   
                 impossible to see those skills 
               
               
                   
                 and accomplishments in the 
               
               
                   
                 context of where and when 
               
               
                   
                 they were performed. 
               
               
                 Résumé doesn&#39;t contain the 
                 Email is the primary 
                 ″Where is your email 
               
               
                 job seeker&#39;s Email address 
                 communication tool for most 
                 address? This is the primary 
               
               
                   
                 recruiters. All electronic 
                 means of communication for 
               
               
                   
                 résumé documents must 
                 recruiters, so don&#39;t make it 
               
               
                   
                 have an email address. This 
                 difficult for them to contact 
               
               
                   
                 rule performs a keyword 
                 you.″ 
               
               
                   
                 search for the “@” character 
               
               
                   
                 which must be present in all 
               
               
                   
                 email addresses. If the “@” 
               
               
                   
                 character is found, then it is 
               
               
                   
                 assumed that the résumé 
               
               
                   
                 does contain an email 
               
               
                   
                 address. 
               
               
                 Résumé Contains Hobbies/ 
                 Personal hobbies and 
                 ″Don&#39;t waste precious real 
               
               
                 Interests 
                 interests do not belong on a 
                 estate on your résumé 
               
               
                   
                 résumé, yet a recent study 
                 talking about your personal 
               
               
                   
                 shows that over 20% of 
                 interests that have nothing to 
               
               
                   
                 résumés contain them. This 
                 do with the position you are 
               
               
                   
                 rule performs a keyword 
                 seeking. You always want 
               
               
                   
                 search in the lower ⅓ of the 
                 people to evaluate you 
               
               
                   
                 résumé for a section entitled 
                 based on your skills and 
               
               
                   
                 “hobbies” or “interests.” If 
                 background. Remember, 
               
               
                   
                 those keywords are not 
                 this isn&#39;t a dating profile.″ 
               
               
                   
                 found, the rule then performs 
               
               
                   
                 a keywords search in the 
               
               
                   
                 lower ⅓ of the document 
               
               
                   
                 for common hobbies, such 
               
               
                   
                 as “golf” or “skiing.” 
               
               
                 Résumé Contains Personal 
                 Résumés should not contain 
                 ″Personal information about 
               
               
                 Information 
                 personal information, as it is 
                 yourself or your family 
               
               
                   
                 seldom appropriate in a job 
                 should not be on your 
               
               
                   
                 search. This rule searches 
                 résumé. Personal info can 
               
               
                   
                 for references to personal 
                 only hurt you and has no 
               
               
                   
                 information, such as “my 
                 place on a résumé.″ 
               
               
                   
                 family” or “date of birth.” It 
               
               
                   
                 also performs a regular 
               
               
                   
                 expression search for a 
               
               
                   
                 series of numbers matching 
               
               
                   
                 a social security number 
               
               
                   
                 (\d\d\d-\d\d-\d\d\d\d). 
               
               
                 Résumé Contains a Career 
                 A résumé should always 
                 ″You have an objective that 
               
               
                 Objective 
                 focus on addressing what a 
                 doesn&#39;t say anything about 
               
               
                   
                 particular employer is 
                 who you are or what you do. 
               
               
                   
                 looking for in a candidate. 
                 Your reader is not interested 
               
               
                   
                 However, traditionally, job 
                 in what you WANT to do - 
               
               
                   
                 seekers begin their résumé 
                 they need to see what 
               
               
                   
                 with a statement of their 
                 you&#39;ve actually done so they 
               
               
                   
                 “career objectives,” which 
                 can determine if you&#39;re a 
               
               
                   
                 has very little interest to 
                 good candidate for the job. 
               
               
                   
                 hiring professionals. This 
                 You have literally seconds to 
               
               
                   
                 rule performs a keyword 
                 convince a potential 
               
               
                   
                 search in the top ⅓ of the 
                 employer that they need an 
               
               
                   
                 résumé for the word 
                 employee with your skills 
               
               
                   
                 “objective.” If this word is 
                 and background, so you 
               
               
                   
                 found, the rule assumes that 
                 must use the top ¼ of your 
               
               
                   
                 what follows the word 
                 résumé to sell yourself more 
               
               
                   
                 “objective” is the job seeker&#39;s 
                 effectively.″ 
               
               
                   
                 career objective. 
               
               
                 Résumé Was Pasted From 
                 Some job seekers paste 
                 ″It looks like you are using a 
               
               
                 Monster.com 
                 their résumé template from 
                 Monster résumé template. 
               
               
                   
                 the web site of Monster.com 
                 This is a poorly designed 
               
               
                   
                 into a word processing 
                 résumé format. Recruiters 
               
               
                   
                 document. The 
                 and hiring managers find 
               
               
                   
                 monster.com template 
                 these difficult to read and will 
               
               
                   
                 format has many 
                 always ask you for a better 
               
               
                   
                 shortcomings, not to mention 
                 version of your résumé.″ 
               
               
                   
                 the formatting issues that 
               
               
                   
                 occur when pasting from a 
               
               
                   
                 web page into a document. 
               
               
                   
                 This rule performs a keyword 
               
               
                   
                 search for words and 
               
               
                   
                 phrases that could suggest 
               
               
                   
                 that this is a Monster.com 
               
               
                   
                 résumé template. 
               
               
                   
                 Monster.com templates also 
               
               
                   
                 contain graphical elements, 
               
               
                   
                 so if the rule determines that 
               
               
                   
                 it is a Monster.com template, 
               
               
                   
                 it suppresses the rule 
               
               
                   
                 pertaining to graphics in 
               
               
                   
                 résumés. 
               
               
                 A Microsoft Word Résumé 
                 Several common résumé 
                 ″Your contact info is poorly 
               
               
                 Template was used 
                 templates are available in 
                 presented. This is a very 
               
               
                   
                 Microsoft Word. Each of 
                 important part of you 
               
               
                   
                 these present their own 
                 résumé, so make it easy to 
               
               
                   
                 unique formatting and layout 
                 find and read on the 
               
               
                   
                 issues that cause problems 
                 computer screen.″ 
               
               
                   
                 for hiring professionals, such 
               
               
                   
                 as poor fonts, tables, and 
               
               
                   
                 text boxes. This rule 
               
               
                   
                 performs a search of the 
               
               
                   
                 document&#39;s rich text markup 
               
               
                   
                 text identify if one of these 
               
               
                   
                 templates was used. 
               
               
                   
                 Depending upon which 
               
               
                   
                 template is found, the rule 
               
               
                   
                 can infer that the associated 
               
               
                   
                 problems are present in the 
               
               
                   
                 résumé, such as poor 
               
               
                   
                 presentation of contact info 
               
               
                   
                 or poor font choice. 
               
               
                 Résumé Has Actual Names 
                 It is never advisable for job 
                 ″There is no need to list your 
               
               
                 and Telephone Numbers of 
                 seekers to include the 
                 references on your résumé. 
               
               
                 Employment References 
                 names and telephone 
                 You don&#39;t want a potential 
               
               
                   
                 numbers of professional and 
                 employer to call them before 
               
               
                   
                 personal references in a 
                 you have interviewed with 
               
               
                   
                 résumé before they are 
                 the company. You need to 
               
               
                   
                 requested. This rule 
                 be able to tell your 
               
               
                   
                 attempts to identify a section 
                 references to expect a 
               
               
                   
                 of the résumé entitled 
                 particular employer to give 
               
               
                   
                 “References,” then performs 
                 them a call.″ 
               
               
                   
                 regular expression searches 
               
               
                   
                 to see if names and 
               
               
                   
                 telephone numbers are listed 
               
               
                   
                 in that section. 
               
               
                 Résumé lists very old 
                 Hiring professionals are 
                 ″There is no need to go into 
               
               
                 Employment in detail 
                 primarily interested in recent 
                 detail about older 
               
               
                   
                 employment on a résumé, 
                 employment. It&#39;s only the 
               
               
                   
                 meaning anything within the 
                 last 5-10 years that an 
               
               
                   
                 last 5 to 10 years. This rule 
                 employer wants to see on a 
               
               
                   
                 identifies the previous 
                 résumé. The want to know 
               
               
                   
                 employers listed on the 
                 what you&#39;ve been doing 
               
               
                   
                 résumé, evaluates the last 
                 lately.″ 
               
               
                   
                 date the job seeker was 
               
               
                   
                 employed there, and 
               
               
                   
                 evaluates how much 
               
               
                   
                 descriptive text the job 
               
               
                   
                 seeker wrote under this 
               
               
                   
                 employer. 
               
               
                 Password Protected 
                 Occasionally, job seekers 
                 ″This document is password 
               
               
                 Document 
                 inadvertently submit 
                 protected. Recruiters get 
               
               
                   
                 documents that are 
                 hundreds of résumés per 
               
               
                   
                 password protected. This 
                 day -- don&#39;t expect them to 
               
               
                   
                 rule determines if the 
                 tell you that they can&#39;t open 
               
               
                   
                 document is password 
                 your document. Please 
               
               
                   
                 protected based upon errors 
                 send us a file that we can 
               
               
                   
                 that are generated during the 
                 open.″ 
               
               
                   
                 rich text conversion process. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In an alternative preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a process similar to those described above may be performed on a user&#39;s computer by downloading a program (such as a program in the Java programming language) from a web server. In this respect, the evaluation of the user&#39;s résumé can be performed directly on the user&#39;s computer. Further, the résumé evaluation software can be installed by CD, DVD, or other disk on the user&#39;s computer, allowing the user to similarly evaluate a résumé on their personal computer. By installing the résumé software on the user&#39;s computer, the user may also perform multiple résumé evaluations, such as in automatically processed batches. This batch processing may be especially desired for a business that charges for résumé evaluations. 
     While the preferred embodiments described in this specification have been mostly described in terms of providing an overall evaluation of a résumé, the present invention may also be used to evaluate or validate a single criteria and generate a response based on the outcome of that rule. For example, a single résumé rule can be used to evaluate or validate an electronic résumé file uploaded to a server through a website. This server may apply, for example, a résumé rule that searches the electronic résumé for dates of employment. If no dates are present, if the dates are vague or are in a difficult to read format, a message can be sent back to the user indicating that their employment dates are not present or are not in a standard format. 
     At times in this specification, the preferred embodiments have been described in terms of steps, especially in relation to the flow charts of the Figures. However, this language should not be interpreted to necessarily limit an order in which these steps must occur. For example, the step  132  of assigning a unique filename to the electronic résumé  126  may occur after step  134  in which a database entry for the electronic résumé  126  is created. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof. 
     Code Example 1 
       
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 Private Function FindVagueSentence(ByVal VagueSentenceText 
               
               
                 As String) As String 
               
               
                 Dim RegExp As RegExp, RTFMatches As MatchCollection, 
               
               
                 RTFMatch As Match 
               
               
                 Dim VerbA1 As String, NounA1 As String, VerbB1 As String 
               
               
                  ‘ top ¼ of résumé 
               
               
                  VagueSentenceText = Left(VagueSentenceText, 
               
               
                  (Len(VagueSentenceText)/4)) 
               
               
                  ‘ Dictionary of Verbs found a the begining of these vague sentences 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “work” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “contribute” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “use” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “obtain” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “acquire” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “seek” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “find” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “further” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “secure” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “utilize” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “expand” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “maximize” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “advance” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “build” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “drive” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “train” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “gain” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “succeed” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “progress” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “provide” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “accomplish” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “join” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “perform” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “improve” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “ensure” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “give” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “begin” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbA1 = VerbA1 &amp; “service” ‘ Last on can&#39;t have “|” 
               
               
                   NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “position” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “advancement” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “field” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “career” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “job” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “employment” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “company” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “organization” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “environment” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “experience” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “expertise” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “career” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “atmosphere” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “commitment” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “goal” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “industry” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “profession” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “responsibility” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “growth” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “management” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “background” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  NounA1 = NounA1 &amp; “knowledge” ‘ Last on can&#39;t have “|” 
               
               
                  Set RegExp = CreateObject(“VBScript.RegExp”) 
               
               
                  RegExp.Global = True 
               
               
                  RegExp.IgnoreCase = True 
               
               
                  RegExp.MultiLine = True 
               
               
                  ‘ 1st Vague sentence syntax 
               
               
                  ReqExp.Pattern = 
               
               
                  “To\s?(” &amp; VerbA1 &amp; “) [\S\x20]{10,120}?(” &amp; NounA1 &amp; “)” 
               
               
                  Set RTFMatches = RegExp.Execute(VagueSentenceText) 
               
               
                  If RTFMatches.Count &gt; 0 Then 
               
               
                   FindVagueSentence = RTFMatches.Item(0).Value 
               
               
                  End If 
               
               
                  If FindVagueSentence &lt;&gt; “” Then Exit Function 
               
               
                  ‘ Matches without the word “To” run into problems with words 
               
               
                  ‘like “work” and “use” - this could describe work experience 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “contribute” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “obtain” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “acquire” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “seek” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “further” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “secure” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “utilize” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “expand” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “advance” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “gain” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “succeed” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “progress” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “provide” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “accomplish” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “join” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “perform” &amp; “|” 
               
               
                  VerbB1 = VerbB1 &amp; “improve” ‘ Last on can&#39;t have “|” 
               
               
                  ‘ 2nd Vague sentence syntax 
               
               
                  RegExp.Pattern = 
               
               
                  “\b(“ &amp; VerbB1 &amp; ”) [\S\x20]{15,120}?(“ 
               
               
                  &amp; NounA1 &amp; ”)” 
               
               
                  Set RTFMatches = RegExp.Execute(VagueSentenceText) 
               
               
                  If RTFMatches.Count &gt; 0 Then 
               
               
                   FindVagueSentence = RTFMatches. Item(0).Value 
               
               
                  End If 
               
               
                   If FindVagueSentence &lt;&gt; “” Then Exit Function 
               
               
                  ‘ 3rd Vague sentence syntax 
               
               
                  RegExp.Pattern = 
               
               
                 “Seeking[\S\x20]{1,30}(career|position|work)[\S\x20]{30, 
               
               
                 120}(advancement|skills|experience|expertise)” 
               
               
                  Set RTFMatches = RegExp.Execute(VagueSentenceText) 
               
               
                  If RTFMatches.Count &gt; 0 Then 
               
               
                   FindVagueSentence = RTFMatches.Item(0).Value 
               
               
                  End If 
               
               
                  If FindVagueSentence &lt;&gt; “” Then Exit Function 
               
               
                  ‘ 4th Vague sentence syntax 
               
               
                  RegExp.Pattern = “a 
               
               
                 position[\S\x20]{5,40}(career|position|work)[\S\x20]{15, 
               
               
                 120}(advancement|skills|experience|expertise)” 
               
               
                  Set RTFMatches = RegExp.Execute(VagueSentenceText) 
               
               
                  If RTFMatches.Count &gt; 0 Then 
               
               
                   FindVagueSentence = RTFMatches.Item(0).Value 
               
               
                  End If 
               
               
                  If FindVagueSentence &lt;&gt; “” Then Exit Function 
               
               
                 End Function 
               
               
                  If VagueSentence = True Then 
               
               
                   EvaluateRésumé = EvaluateRésumé &amp; “Vague phrases like, ”“” &amp; 
               
               
                 VagueSentenceString &amp; “...”“ do not communicate anything 
               
               
                 meaningful about your background. Using more substantial language will 
               
               
                 do a much better job selling yourself as a candidate for the 
               
               
                 job.” &amp; Chr(10) &amp; Chr(10) 
               
               
                  End If