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How To Create Your CV For Machines To Read
By Neville Hobson
Expert Author
Article Date: 2005-03-16
If you're career searching, you know how crucial a well-prepared CV/résumé is. You've probably read various guides on how to prepare it, what format it should be, layout, use of typefaces, how many pages, etc.
For instance, take a look at the résumés/cover letters section in the Wall Street Journal's Executive Career Site - links galore to useful information that will help you.
One thing you've probably heard about, too, is what happens to your CV when you send it off with an application for a job. The rules have changed now, according to The Sovren Group, who make specialist software that intelligently reads CVs (what they call a 'résumé parser').
Your CV will be read by résumé-parsing software before it ever gets in front of a human being, especially if you apply for a position with a large company who frequently recruits, or if you go via a recruitment consultant or headhunter.
Traditional thinking about content and presentation will do you little good in the face of cold logic from a computer program. So you need to know how to prepare an electronically-readable CV.
It's not as complex as you might think, as long as you know how. And Sovren has put together a helpful and free 7-page guide that explains how to do it.
Download Tips for Electronic Resumes (requires Microsoft Word).
Once you have your electronically-readable CV ready, Sovren offers a pay-for service where you can test it on actual job board processing software and see exactly what it "sees" before you post it to the job boards, recruiters, etc. After you see the results, you can revise your CV and re-test it until it's just right.
About the Author:
Neville Hobson is the author of the popular NevilleHobson.com blog which focuses on business communication and technology.
Neville is a UK-based communicator, blogger and podcaster. He helps companies use effective communication to achieve their business goals. Visit Neville Hobson's blog: NevilleHobson.com.
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