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In a previous article on resume cover letters, we talked about the Internet's ability to flood job recruiters with information. The Internet has also created a means to accelerate the dissemination of information with pinpoint accuracy. If you're a job seeker, one such way to get noticed quickly is with an electronic resume posting service.
Posting a Resume Electronically
The job seeker actually has a total of three ways to leverage the speed of the Internet to post their resume electronically: resume blasting, resume distribution, as well as using a resume posting service. The type of service that is most effective will depend on your individual job seeking strategy.
For example, two of these methods, resume distribution and resume blasting, are proactive approaches. Resume posting is a passive strategy. There are pros and cons of each approach, so let's explain each one in more detail. This way you can make a better decision about the approach to employ in your particular situation.
Electronic Resume Distribution Service
More accurately, electronic resume distribution is a database-driven strategy to sending out your resume. With this approach, the user has access to a database of potential employers and recruiters, and the user decides where to send the resume.
Prices for electronic resume distribution services start at around $50 and go straight up from that price point. It's a proactive approach since you are "pushing" your resume out, and not sitting back and waiting for your resume to get noticed.
The service is only as good as its database, so make sure you know what you are paying for when you hire someone to help. It's also fast, since you'll pick and send your resume in just a session or two.
Electronic Resume Posting Service
Using an electronic resume posting service involves posting your resume to several job search boards at the same time. The company providing this posting service will save you time, and often add some finishing touches to your resume. Prices can range from around $40 to several hundred dollars to post your resume at 80 or more electronic job posting sites.
The value that an electronic resume posting service adds is that they save you the time of reformatting your resume to fit the nuances of the different job search boards. Some companies also include keyword, proofreading, and text conversion services. Adopting a posting strategy is a passive approach to resume distribution. Recruiters must do resume keyword searches or queries to find your resume on the board.
Electronic Resume Blasting
In contrast to the more selective approach of resume posting, resume blasting is best described as a volume approach to electronic resume distribution. Prices for this service start around $50, and typically involve sending your resume to 500,000 or more email addresses. Since you are pushing your resume to many potential recruiters and employers, this is certainly a proactive approach.
Choosing an Electronic Resume Posting Service
Before you decide which approach is best for your situation, here is a short list of questions you need to ask yourself:
- Do I have the time or patience to do this work myself?
- Will a more objective look at my resume help give it the polish it needs, or am I getting the results I need already?
- Do I need a lot of exposure, or am I seeking a specialty position?
As is the case with all these methods, make sure your resume is in good shape before you post, distribute, or blast it. If you are getting a poor response rate from your present resume, then using a service will only be sending a sub-optimal resume out to more people.
Finally, remember resume posting or other services are only one tool, and should be integrated into your overall job search toolbox. If you're serious about finding a job, then you'll need a multi-pronged approach to be successful. Remember to network, search the classifieds, and visit job listings on career sites every day.
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