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In today’s job market it is a good idea to have more than one email format when responding to a request for your email resume. The marketplace almost demands that you do so because of viruses floating around the Internet, and the importance for you to follow exact instructions. Anything less might imply that you do not know how to read and follow instructions.

You really need 4 different email resume formats in two different versions to cover all the possible requests you might encounter in the hiring process, allowing you to read and respond immediately to exact instructions.

You need 4 different email resume formats because about 50% of companies and organizations will accept email resume attachments and 50% will not. For those companies and organizations that will accept attachments to an email, you should use the attachment format, especially when you are dealing directly with the company or organization looking for a new hire.

Use the attachment version because it should look like the original hard copy version of your resume and cover letter. All of the formats you use should be in Microsoft Word for easy down loading. Using PDF files might be popular but they are not nearly as practicable. Everyone may not know how to down load PDF files but almost everyone can down load a word.doc file. Be smart, not sorry; format your versions in MS Word.

You should have two formats of the attachment version. One should be the resume followed by the cover letter, and the other should be the resume only. When personnel types ask for an “email resume” it is best to send the resume only format.

This is because specialists that screen email resumes consider the cover letter unnecessary, and they may not be doing the actual interviewing and hiring so they could care less whether you or another more qualified applicant is interviewed.

Should the initial request be for an “email resume and cover letter” then you have the other attachment format to transmit. It is best to have two versions of the attachment format because if you are sending the resume only, you have to remember to delete the cover letter at the end. Many potential hires are in a hurry and forget to do so, thus irritating some human resources (personnel) specialists.

When a company or organization will accept an attachment, they know you are sending it, and you clearly identify yourself, use the attachment version because it should look most like your original resume and cover letter.

If there is any doubt in your mind about whether a company or organization will accept an email attachment version of your resume, call and ask them. When an online prompt says “cut and paste your resume here” that is a sure clue that you should not use the attachment version because it will not display properly in the box provided.

Do not use your company email address when you are employed and in the job hunting process. Companies can and will monitor your email usage and messages. To avoid this pitfall, create a personal email address for yourself that you can access at home and not on the job. They can and will monitor your personal email on the job.

Do not use stupid email addresses (like “hotshot43@” or “hothoney1@”), or email addresses that are so convoluted they make no sense at all (like “jrz13xueb@”). Keep whatever floats your boat, but get yourself a clear, understandable, straightforward email address for jobs and promotions.

If your name is Ed Bagley, do as I do. Make your email address “edbagley@comcast.net”, even better would be “ed-bagley@comcast.net so it is easier to distinguish your name as the sender.

Do this so the person you are sending your email resume attachment to can easily identify you, otherwise, your email may get deleted.

(Editor’s Note: This is Part 3 of a 6-Part series.)

Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley