Resume File Name (2009, applying, employers, job)

[iarch]

I honestly never thought about how to save my resume. I fell in the no name category.

1. NO Name, 9%
2. First name only, 9%
3. Initials only, 10%
4. Last name only, 15%
5. Full Name, 58%

Structure of a good resume filename: FirstName-LastName-Resume-KeywordPhrase.doc

• Use your first and last name in the file name.
• Include the word “resume”
• Include a keyword phrase (1 to 3 words summarizing your job or industry)
• Separate words with hyphens
• Submit your resume in a Microsoft Word 2003 format (.doc)

Resume Filename Best Practices: Palladian Career Resources

[annerk]

Yup! Especially when employers have more than one job they are advertising for.

[danameless]

I add the date on my file name as well, if nothing else for me so I know which is the most up-to-date version I am working with. For example, mine is saved as,

FirstnameLastnameRESUMEJune09

[geekychick]

I save my copy same as danameless. FirstnameLastnameRESUMEJune09 FOR MY PURPOSES.


But rename for the person I am sending it to:
Example
FirstnameLastname_JOB_TITLE or If there is a #.

Why?

Because HR people or hiring managers may have more than one position to fill. This helps them when they dig in their MY DOCUMENTS or computer files to
1. See your name
2. See what job you are applying for

All without having to open the file up!

[Threestep]

Also - send it as pdf.

[annerk]

I'm on the limb on the PDF. It's my understanding that some software that reads resumes and adds them to databases is unable to read PDF files.

[iarch]

Originally Posted by annerk

I'm on the limb on the PDF. It's my understanding that some software that reads resumes and adds them to databases is unable to read PDF files.

PDF's are great if you have a highly formatted resume.
The higher version Adobe Acrobat Pro's can fully convert the PDF's to other workable file format's, but you lose the formatting.

The basic rule of thumb is that the resume should look comparable in both .txt and .doc.
Also, the resume should be easily readable.

[Chilkoot]

This is going a bit off-topic but this website converts .pdfs to word.docs for free. You upload your pdf, give them an email address, and within 10 or 15 minutes they email the word doc to you. So far mine have come back formatted correctly.
Convert PDF to Word (DOC) — 100% Free!

[djkkt6]

Originally Posted by Threestep

Also - send it as pdf.

No, don't do this actually. Send it as a Word file, unless asked to do otherwise.

To me, a resume with the file name "First name Last name" is best. The worst thing you can do is call it "Joe Smith Chicago resume". That implies that you have a resume for other cities... which implies that you're not necessarily sold on staying in the city in which the company is... and no one wants to waste time with a candidate who might be moving soon.