They're not the only ones taking advantage of the digital revolution. Recruiters are also using technical advances to work more efficiently, using software solutions to find resumes that match particular criteria. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) allow busy human resources staff to quickly screen large numbers of resumes and find those that match specific preferences such as job-related skills, relevant work history and an applicant's location.

If you're not sure whether to prepare your resume to be 'scanner-friendly', it might be advisable to enquire of a prospective employer whether they use software to process applications that they receive. Whatever industry you're working in, it's also important to analyze the job advertisement and description carefully and use your resume to target the specific requirements of the position you're applying to fill: focus on job specific information in your resume objective and edit out irrelevant personal information.

It's possible to write a resume that's suitable for scanning without sacrificing good presentation that will appeal to the human reader. Here are three main areas to consider:

1. Keywords: many systems will search your resume to find words which match selected criteria. Some resume writers like to include a keyword list near the top of their resume; others prefer to use keywords in descriptions throughout the document.

   Your own professional knowledge will often be the best guide to the appropriate keyword terms. You can also look in the job description to find work-related vocabulary. Other sources might include company brochures and reports, industry related articles from the media and professional forum groups.

2. Layout: give prominence to IT skills by including them near the beginning of your resume. Not only is this a good opportunity to build in keywords, but you can highlight the most important aspects of your training and certification. Consider using a dedicated skills summary or profile statement below the header section of your document.

   Don't sacrifice legibility for the sake of cramming your information onto one sheet of paper. If you have substantial relevant data to include on your resume, use a second page. But avoid printing on both sides of a sheet -- your second side may be missed!

3. Presentation: make the job of the scanning software easier. These simple guidelines will ensure that that your resume is easily deciphered:
   • Don't use tables or columns in your layout. The scanner will probably try to read the whole page from left to right in a single pass.
   • Use a simple, sans-serif font such as Arial or Verdana in which characters do not touch each other.
   • Don't rely on different font styles such as bold or italic text. Use capitals for titles and section headings.
   • If you have bulleted lists, use an asterisk or hyphen instead of the bullet point. Avoid hollow bullets -- the system may try to read them as characters.
   • Set one inch margins for your document. Use single space for text in your main body, separating paragraphs with a double space.
   • Print your resume on bright white paper. This will ensure the cleanest possible reading of your data. Inkjet printed text ca
     Follow-up Wins the Interview
     You thought you were perfect for the job. So why isn't your phone ringing?Let's say you just sent your resum? off to 25 prospective employers and now you've done your part. Now, you just sit back and wait for the phone to ring. But why is nothing happening?Stop!The Job Search Industry is Not on Your SideThis is exactly the wrong approach to your successful job search. This is because your phone will probably never ring. The fact that you sent your resum? to some job post
     evant work history and an applicant's location.

     If you're not sure whether to prepare your resume to be 'scanner-friendly', it might be advisable to enquire of a prospective employer whether they use software to process applications that they receive. Whatever industry you're working in, it's also important to analyze the job advertisement and description carefully and use your resume to target the specific requirements of the position you're applying to fill: focus on job specific information in your resume objective and edit out irrelevant personal information.

     It's possible to write a resume that's suitable for scanning without sacrificing good presentation that will appeal to the human reader. Here are three main areas to consider:

     1. Keywords: many systems will search your resume to find words which match selected criteria. Some resume writers like to include a keyword list near the top of their resume; others prefer to use keywords in descriptions throughout the document.

        Your own professional knowledge will often be the best guide to the appropriate keyword terms. You can also look in the job description to find work-related vocabulary. Other sources might include company brochures and reports, industry related articles from the media and professional forum groups.

     2. Layout: give prominence to IT skills by including them near the beginning of your resume. Not only is this a good opportunity to build in keywords, but you can highlight the most important aspects of your training and certification. Consider using a dedicated skills summary or profile statement below the header section of your document.

        Don't sacrifice legibility for the sake of cramming your information onto one sheet of paper. If you have substantial relevant data to include on your resume, use a second page. But avoid printing on both sides of a sheet -- your second side may be missed!

     3. Presentation: make the job of the scanning software easier. These simple guidelines will ensure that that your resume is easily deciphered:
        • Don't use tables or columns in your layout. The scanner will probably try to read the whole page from left to right in a single pass.
        • Use a simple, sans-serif font such as Arial or Verdana in which characters do not touch each other.
        • Don't rely on different font styles such as bold or italic text. Use capitals for titles and section headings.
        • If you have bulleted lists, use an asterisk or hyphen instead of the bullet point. Avoid hollow bullets -- the system may try to read them as characters.
        • Set one inch margins for your document. Use single space for text in your main body, separating paragraphs with a double space.
        • Print your resume on bright white paper. This will ensure the cleanest possible reading of your data. Inkjet printed text c
          Put An End To Committees!
          Committees have been the bane of management almost from the beginning of time. Like a number of other things in our world, you can’t live with ‘em, and you can’t live without ‘em, right?. Not so fast, friend. There may actually be a way to rid the business world of committees, once and for all.You say your company has a problem? Time to form a committee to deal with it, to recommend a solution! Got another problem? Another committee’s got to be the way to go. Do that often enough, and your
          areas to consider:
          1. Keywords: many systems will search your resume to find words which match selected criteria. Some resume writers like to include a keyword list near the top of their resume; others prefer to use keywords in descriptions throughout the document.

             Your own professional knowledge will often be the best guide to the appropriate keyword terms. You can also look in the job description to find work-related vocabulary. Other sources might include company brochures and reports, industry related articles from the media and professional forum groups.

          2. Layout: give prominence to IT skills by including them near the beginning of your resume. Not only is this a good opportunity to build in keywords, but you can highlight the most important aspects of your training and certification. Consider using a dedicated skills summary or profile statement below the header section of your document.

             Don't sacrifice legibility for the sake of cramming your information onto one sheet of paper. If you have substantial relevant data to include on your resume, use a second page. But avoid printing on both sides of a sheet -- your second side may be missed!

          3. Presentation: make the job of the scanning software easier. These simple guidelines will ensure that that your resume is easily deciphered:
             • Don't use tables or columns in your layout. The scanner will probably try to read the whole page from left to right in a single pass.
             • Use a simple, sans-serif font such as Arial or Verdana in which characters do not touch each other.
             • Don't rely on different font styles such as bold or italic text. Use capitals for titles and section headings.
             • If you have bulleted lists, use an asterisk or hyphen instead of the bullet point. Avoid hollow bullets -- the system may try to read them as characters.
             • Set one inch margins for your document. Use single space for text in your main body, separating paragraphs with a double space.
             • Print your resume on bright white paper. This will ensure the cleanest possible reading of your data. Inkjet printed text c
               How Do You Market Two Businesses?
               Because I do a lot of networking with very small business owners, I meet a lot of dual business owners. These are people, usually women, who own two businesses (or more).As a solopreneur, your resources are limited – that is, time and mo'ney. Managing and marketing one business is already a full-time job, so if your two businesses don't share the same target market, you may struggle – a lot.Sharing the same target market allows you to refer business to yourself, and if your two products/
               to build in keywords, but you can highlight the most important aspects of your training and certification. Consider using a dedicated skills summary or profile statement below the header section of your document.

               Don't sacrifice legibility for the sake of cramming your information onto one sheet of paper. If you have substantial relevant data to include on your resume, use a second page. But avoid printing on both sides of a sheet -- your second side may be missed!

             • Presentation: make the job of the scanning software easier. These simple guidelines will ensure that that your resume is easily deciphered:
               • Don't use tables or columns in your layout. The scanner will probably try to read the whole page from left to right in a single pass.
               • Use a simple, sans-serif font such as Arial or Verdana in which characters do not touch each other.
               • Don't rely on different font styles such as bold or italic text. Use capitals for titles and section headings.
               • If you have bulleted lists, use an asterisk or hyphen instead of the bullet point. Avoid hollow bullets -- the system may try to read them as characters.
               • Set one inch margins for your document. Use single space for text in your main body, separating paragraphs with a double space.
               • Print your resume on bright white paper. This will ensure the cleanest possible reading of your data. Inkjet printed text c
                 Paralegals - Top Organizations You Need To Know
                 The career field of paralegals began developing in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s as lawyers began hiring the assistants to help them with paper work, case investigation and general duties. As more attorneys began hiring legal assistance, the American Bar Association formed the Standing Committee on Legal Assistance to help set the standard in the paralegal - attorney relationship, employment guidelines and other duties associated with the paralegal, or legal assistant. That committee was form
                 hole page from left to right in a single pass.
               • Use a simple, sans-serif font such as Arial or Verdana in which characters do not touch each other.
               • Don't rely on different font styles such as bold or italic text. Use capitals for titles and section headings.
               • If you have bulleted lists, use an asterisk or hyphen instead of the bullet point. Avoid hollow bullets -- the system may try to read them as characters.
               • Set one inch margins for your document. Use single space for text in your main body, separating paragraphs with a double space.
               • Print your resume on bright white paper. This will ensure the cleanest possible reading of your data. Inkjet printed text can be easily smudged -- a laser printed document or high definition photocopy may be better.

          IT professionals are well placed to benefit from the burgeoning demand for high-tech expertise in a wide range of industries. Highlighting these skills in a resume helps to prove your potential value to an employer and strengthens the case for hiring you.