(Originally posted to TribLocal on 9/23/10)
Take a quick look at your resume. Now back to this blog! (I’ll stop there…)

Does your resume have boxes or tables that categorize specific information such as keywords or accomplishments? If so, you could be doing your resume and your job search a disservice. I’ve learned from a few of my recruiting experts that some keyword scanning programs don’t recognize text/content inside a box or a table, which is ironic, because a lot of people use boxes or tables to spotlight that information. Open lines and columns are just fine – as long as the information isn’t closed in on all four sides.

From what I understand, most of the modern scanning programs don’t have a problem with boxes or tables, but why take a chance? There are plenty of formatting options that work quite well with ANY program, so let’s focus on the path of least resistance. The important thing to remember is that the job of your resume is to capture 100% of the reader’s attention and sometimes, a computer is the first of many obstacles that you’ll have to conquer. (Kind of like Indiana Jones, except that the further ahead you get, you’ll hopefully get a job offer instead of a pit full of rats.)

If you have any questions or concerns about the formatting of your resume, leave a comment and we’ll discuss it. In the meantime, I wish everyone a happy and prosperous week!