Sending your resume to an employer
If you are asked (or choose) to submit your documents through postal mail, please observe the following guidelines:
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Print your documents (resume, cover letter, references) on high-quality bond paper. If your paper has a visible watermark, make sure you insert the paper in the printer so that the watermark is aligned correctly on your finished product. Use a laser printer for best quality.
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Avoid folding your documents when possible. If you must fold them, do so carefully and make sure you fold between lines and not on them. Do not staple pages. Make sure your name is on each page you submit. For a more polished look, use the same heading on each of your documents.
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Make certain that you have enough postage on the envelope before you mail it! A “postage due” delivery will not be impressive.
If you are submitting electronically, please observe the following guidelines:
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The subject line of your email should be clear and direct: Assistant manager position #345, for example.
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Save all documents in PDF format and name them, so that they will be easily identified (AllisonSmithresume. PDF). Saving as a PDF will maintain the integrity of your document and will prevent words (such as “Elon”) from being underlined in green because Spell Check does not recognize them. This will also protect you if the viewer has a computer that is not compatible with yours (PC/Mac) and does not share the same fonts.
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Cover letters can be sent as attachments or they can be included in the body of the e-mail, with the resume included as an attachment. If you choose to send everything as attachments, save all documents together as one attachment (cover letter, resume, then references, if sending all three) to minimize the number of attachments the reader must open.
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If your e-mail opens with your cover letter, it should be formatted as it would in print form, but with one exception: instead of your contact information appearing at the top of the letter, with e-mail, it will follow your “signature” at the bottom.
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Send a copy to yourself as a BCC to keep for your records.
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