Resume scanning is a process by which employers convert hardcopy resumes into image files and / or electronic resumes so they can be input into computer databases. Because scanning has some inherent problems, it’s not used very much. In fact, it’s unlikely that you’ll come across it in your job search. However, if you do, you’ll need to know how to create a resume that can be scanned as successfully as possible.
What Is Resume Scanning?
Typically, resume scanning software does the following:
- Creates electronic images or “snapshots” of resumes
- Turns these images into electronic text files by using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software
Here’s how resume scanning works on the employer’s end:
When your paper resume arrives via U.S. mail or fax, it is placed into a scanner (a piece of equipment that looks like a photocopy machine). At the press of a button, the scanner creates an electronic image of your resume. This electronic image is next processed by the system’s OCR software, which acts as artificial intelligence to examine the image file, recognize characters, and recreate your resume as a text file. As a text file, your resume is an e-resume, which can be treated like all e-resumes as described in The Secret to E-Resume Success: The Database
What happens to the image file of your resume?
If a resume database is sophisticated, it will create a database file for your e-resume and it will also store the image file so that hiring managers can view your resume as it originally appeared on paper.
The Problem with Resume Scanning
No matter how perfectly you follow the resume scanning guidelines for creating a scannable resume, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software is bound to make some errors in translating your characters. The result: Your resume will have words that are unreadable, and therefore unsearchable unless the person entering your resume into the database catches the mistakes and corrects them.
Getting Around Resume Scanners
The way to solve this problem is to avoid scanners whenever possible by sending an e-resume instead of a hardcopy resume. In other words, if you see an ad that says “send or email your resume,” by all means, email it! Your emailed resume will bypass the resume scanner (which converts a hardcopy resume into an e-resume) because it’s already an e-resume. Another excellent way to beat the resume scanning dilemma is to post your resume on the company’s website, which delivers your resume electronically and therefore doesn’t require resume scanning.
Do You Need a Scannable Resume?
If you must send a hardcopy resume, find out if it’s likely to encounter a resume scanner. The best way to determine this is to contact the Human Resources department of the company in which you are interested, and ask if they use resume scanning. If they do, request that they forward guidelines to you so you can tailor your resume specifically for their system. If they do not use scanning, ask whether it’s best to send your original paper resume, or an electronic version via email or through their recruiting website.
If you suspect they are using a resume scanner and you cannot get instructions for creating a resume for their scanning system, follow the guidlines in Formatting a Scannable Resume.
10 Steps: How to Write a Resume
90 Resume Samples
Ready-Made Resumes Software
Resume Scanning
Resume scanning is a process by which employers convert hardcopy resumes into image files and / or electronic resumes so they can be input into computer databases. Because scanning has some inherent problems, it’s not used very much. In fact, it’s unlikely that you’ll come across it in your job search. However, if you do, you’ll need to know how to create a resume that can be scanned as successfully as possible.
What Is Resume Scanning?
Typically, resume scanning software does the following:
Here’s how resume scanning works on the employer’s end:
When your paper resume arrives via U.S. mail or fax, it is placed into a scanner (a piece of equipment that looks like a photocopy machine). At the press of a button, the scanner creates an electronic image of your resume. This electronic image is next processed by the system’s OCR software, which acts as artificial intelligence to examine the image file, recognize characters, and recreate your resume as a text file. As a text file, your resume is an e-resume, which can be treated like all e-resumes as described in The Secret to E-Resume Success: The Database
What happens to the image file of your resume?
If a resume database is sophisticated, it will create a database file for your e-resume and it will also store the image file so that hiring managers can view your resume as it originally appeared on paper.
The Problem with Resume Scanning
No matter how perfectly you follow the resume scanning guidelines for creating a scannable resume, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software is bound to make some errors in translating your characters. The result: Your resume will have words that are unreadable, and therefore unsearchable unless the person entering your resume into the database catches the mistakes and corrects them.
Getting Around Resume Scanners
The way to solve this problem is to avoid scanners whenever possible by sending an e-resume instead of a hardcopy resume. In other words, if you see an ad that says “send or email your resume,” by all means, email it! Your emailed resume will bypass the resume scanner (which converts a hardcopy resume into an e-resume) because it’s already an e-resume. Another excellent way to beat the resume scanning dilemma is to post your resume on the company’s website, which delivers your resume electronically and therefore doesn’t require resume scanning.
Do You Need a Scannable Resume?
If you must send a hardcopy resume, find out if it’s likely to encounter a resume scanner. The best way to determine this is to contact the Human Resources department of the company in which you are interested, and ask if they use resume scanning. If they do, request that they forward guidelines to you so you can tailor your resume specifically for their system. If they do not use scanning, ask whether it’s best to send your original paper resume, or an electronic version via email or through their recruiting website.
If you suspect they are using a resume scanner and you cannot get instructions for creating a resume for their scanning system, follow the guidlines in Formatting a Scannable Resume.
10 Steps: How to Write a Resume
90 Resume Samples
Ready-Made Resumes Software