People Still Send Paper Resumes?
from the who-are-you-people? dept
I guess it’s a product of Silicon Valley culture, but I can’t think of anyone who sends paper resumes to job openings any more. However, the folks behind a recent study sound surprised that a whopping 56% of resumes are now sent by email. They sound surprised that the number is so high, while I’m surprised the number is so low.
Comments on “People Still Send Paper Resumes?”
Paper Resume'
I would imagine that the reason why so many people like myself send a written resume’ is because I want a human to look at it.
I also know that by law, many companies are required to keep written resume’s on file for at least a year.
I usually like to send my resume electronically and then follow up with a well written cover letter AND a paper copy of my resume’.
This hopefully shows the potential employer than I am seriously interested in the position and willing to take the time to address a letter instead of hoping someone will just key in search words and my resume’ ” might ” pop up …
Paper vs Digital
If you’re going to send your resume in a digital form, try to use something like Acrobat .PDF files.
I tried going through some headhunters a few years back when I grew dissatisfied with my job and I went to a couple of job interviews where the interviewer would ask questions based on my resume and I was like “I did what?” because the headhunter had ‘cleaned up’ my Word doc resume and changed some job titles around, added additional skills that he felt I should have, etc.
Also, for some people, especially older people, a nicely printed resume on fine linen paper is nicer than a laser-printed resume on plain white bond paper. Some people simply don’t like to read things on screen and prefer hardcopy, and some people like to scribble notes on the page as they go through it. Providing someone with a quality hardcopy ensures that your resume stands out from the crowd.
Re: Paper vs Digital
If you’re going to send your resume in a digital form, try to use something like Acrobat .PDF files.
Every resume I’ve ever sent to an employer has been on paper, but I think the PDF idea is a good idea. It really depends on who you are sending it to and why.
I don’t know how many times I’ve trashed e-mails sent to me (why, as I am just a techie,) with .doc resume files attached (even if I used Microsoft Word, I wouldn’t open these things.) However, people who send me .pdf files would probably still be trashed, but at least I’d open it and read it.
Then again, unless I know the person, I will not likely forward it on to my boss, as I’ve given recommendations before for people I barely knew who were fired weeks later because “they didn’t fit in,” or had a character flaw. Ends up looking really bad for me, and so unless I know the person, I usually send them a response with a link to my company’s HR department.
44% send paper
That number would probably be even lower if there weren’t so many companies with blanket “no email attachment” policies.
No Subject Given
The New York Times employment web site only gives you a snail mail address unless you pay a hefty subscription fee. It’s very nasty…
I’ve only seen one job on there in six months I can apply to, and so I sent a paper resume. As I sent it, though, I thought to myself I had no chance, because other people would be emailing…