It is becoming increasingly more important for job seekers to recognize that the resumes they send to employers may very well be read on a mobile phone. This guest post from Joe Linford offers tips for ensuring your resume is optimized for mobile viewing.
The modern business world has changed hugely with the development of mobile communications technologies and fast broadband internet connectivity. These days you are as likely to have your resume read on a smartphone as you are on a computer or in print, making it even more important to impress any potential employee quickly.
Most potential employers are likely to only read the first six to ten lines of your resume before moving on to the next one, and thus this is where you must sell yourself. Traditionally, this first section of the resume would be filled with generic contact information, not a whole lot of substance, and this has to change. It is of utmost importance to maximise the impact of these first few sentences, and encourage any potential employer to read on.
Top tips for Smartphone resume formatting
If you are to be successful in making your resume compatible with smartphone technology, you first need to understand how to format it correctly.
• Use standard fonts – web safe fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Tahoma will display well on every smartphone. Just like with a paper resume, use 10pt or 12pt for the main text, and use larger font sizes for section headers.
• Use design strategies wisely – Consider the view on a smartphone screen when designing your resume. Try using a side text box to showcase areas of expertise or a chart to demonstrate year over year success. Use shading and color to differentiate certain content and make important points stand out.
• The first 6-10 lines are critical – As mentioned above, it is especially important when writing a resume for smartphones that the first 6-10 lines are full of high quality information and keywords. This text must draw in the reader. Adapt for the specific job or position you are applying for, including most-related achievements, skills and other qualifications. With the huge array of technologies available these days, the paper resume is not yet a spent force, but certainly needs to be used alongside these other versions.
Get resume help for your smartphone
As this guest post was being written, Barbara Safani pointed out that the CareerSolvers smartphone app contains sample resumes that utilize the design elements mentioned above.The Careersolvers app is free and you can download it here.
Final thoughts
The simple fact is that paper resumes are no longer enough, and it is now crucial, if you are to stay ahead in an extremely competitive job market, to fully utilise new technologies. With broadband forming virtual lines of communication between potential employers and candidates around the world, it is important to act quickly, and jump to the top of the pile. In the not too distant future, everyone will have mobile and web versions of their resume, but until then, you can stand out from the crowd, and get your dream job today.
About the author
This post was contributed by Joe Linford of www.broadbandgenie.co.uk, the UK-based online resource & comparison site for broadband, mobile broadband and smartphones.
