Resume Writing 2.0 for a Mobile Job Search

Job seekers and employers have long been connecting through online job search websites, and now recently through social media resources like LinkedIn, Facebook, RSS Feeds, and Twitter. Moreover, candidates are taking advantage of other online tools to market their personal brand, from launching a blog to creating a website to targeting mobile devices.

A wealth of free or low cost iPhone applications are accessible to job seekers such as Craigster (Craigslist for Smartphones), iJobs, and LinkedIn.1 Now you can even search for and apply to jobs on the go. Christina Archer suggests signing up to receive RSS Feeds from your favorite job search websites right on your phone in her article SmartPhone Job Search: Getting Hired On The Go2.

Just as you may take advantage of these time-saving tools, employers may do the same. With so many avenues through which your resume can reach a recruiter or hiring manager, it is more important than ever to ensure your resume makes a huge impact, whether being viewed as a hard copy or displayed on a mobile device.

Resumes likely receive only 10-15 seconds of attention during the initial review. Consider, then, if your resume is viewed on a Blackberry, iPhone, or other Smartphone. Or maybe a Netbook or iPad. Is it optimized for this aspect of your job search?

Here are some tips for making your resume more technology-friendly.

Resume Keywords & Content

It is likely that only the top-third of your resume featuring the resume title and some select content are visible to an employer if viewed on a mobile device.

Consider the top-third of your resume as prime real estate in the personal branding landscape. Use this precious space to highlight your key skills and the professional attributes using a Qualifications Summary or Profile that has supplanted the outdated career objective and takes advantage of more employer-centric strategies.

Make sure the title of your resume hones in on your main job target while the skills you wish to highlight are represented with core industry keywords. Here, it is critical to use resume keywords that align with the industry and type of position you are seeking.

Resume Format

Since the capabilities and technology differs among Smartphones and mobile devices, follow these guidelines so that your resume displays as you intended.

Use standard font types: Times New Roman, Verdana, and Arial. Using different font sizes—10pt to 12pt—can help differentiate content.
Avoid lines, images, designs, or colors. Basically, minimize the characters on your resume to what can be found on your keyboard.
Remove page breaks, section breaks, tabs, and tables.

You may consider preparing multiple versions of your resume, specifically one for social networking and mobile devices that features minimal formatting. Remember, the goal is to get noticed and land an interview at which time you can share more of your skill set and professional work history, as well as provide a visually appealing format of your resume.

Taking advantage of emerging and convenient technologies can help to accelerate your job search. It is also important to use these strategies as part of a well-rounded job search that capitalizes on a full range of resources.