See the employer’s instructions!

• Before e-mailing a resume to an employer, check the employer’s web site for instructions on how to do so, or ask the employer for the preferred method.

• For example, an employer may instruct you to submit your resume as a Microsoft Word document as an attachment to your e-mail. Or an employer may prefer you submit your resume as an ASCII file — a document that is pure text and contains no formatting (i.e., no font enhancements, no spacing enhancements, etc.). The employer might want your resume text in the body of your e-mail. Or the employer could have other preferences and instructions.

• Do your research before sending your resume. Sending a resume that an employer is unable to retrieve and/or read will simply cause frustration for the employer and will not advance your cause of wanting to make a favorable impression on the employer.

Sending / naming attachments:

• If you’re sending your resume as an attachment, NAME YOUR ATTACHMENT(s) LOGICALLY — logically for the recipient, that is. “EmilyAlderResume.doc” works fine. “Myresume4jf206″ might work for you, but won’t mean anything or be helpful to the employer.

• For MS Word documents, include the extension “.doc” so the employer (and the employer’s computer) knows it’s a Microsoft Word document.

• Don’t send a pdf file to an employer unless you are instructed to do so by the employer.

What if I can’t find any instructions from the employer?

• Send two versions with one e-mail: attach an MS Word version of your resume, and include your resume text in your e-mail. That gives the employer an option of looking at the version s/he chooses.