Scanner-Friendly Resumes

By Steve Burt
Certified Professional Resume Writer

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To prepare your resume for scanning:

• Use white or light-colored 8-1/2 x 11 paper, printed on one side only.

• Provide an original or high quality photocopy.

• Don't fold or staple your document.

• Use a sans-serif typeface such as Helvetica or Arial.

• Use a font size of 10 to 14 points.

• Don't condense spacing so much that characters touch each other.

• Limit the use of Italics and underlining.

• Avoid vertical lines, graphics, and boxes.

• Avoid multi-column formats.

• Use plenty of white space between groups of information.

To maximize keyword "hits" for your resume:

• Be sure to use key words. These can be placed in a keyword list but it's better to use them within the document text itself.

• Use specific words (especially nouns) rather than vague descriptions.

• Use jargon and acronyms specific to your industry.

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I'm a charter member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers. I earned the designation of  Certified Professional Resume Writer in 1992 and have helped 1,000's of people reach their career goals. I'd be happy to help you do the same. Read more about my services.

Thanks,
Steven M. Burt
Certified Professional Resume Writer

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