“Different strokes, for different folks.”  – Sly Stone

There are three types of resumes you want to create. The three are derived from one master (long) resume.

Like choosing a weapon to go to battle with, so to should you select the right resume.

You will need a different resume for these different scenarios:

• Sending your resume to a employer by email
• Sending your resume to a employer by fax
• Giving your interviewer your resume by hand
• Posting your resume online

The difference of these resumes, are in length, and whether or not they are in PDF or text.

The “Email” Resume

This is your long version (more than 1 page) resume that has imbedded hyperlinks and is sent to the employer by email and in pdf.

The “Fax” Resume

This is your short version (one page in length and no more) that is faxed (with no visible hyperlinks). You use one page, out of respect, that you are using someone else’s resources, such as ink and paper.

The “Interview” Resume

This is the same as the fax. The interviewer just needs a “snap shot” of your resume so that they can ask you questions. Many times this won’t be necessary to give them because they may have your resume already from either email, fax, or by internet. However, it is a professional courtesy to come prepared and offer each of your interviewers a copy of your resume as the original might still be with another interviewer or on someone’s desk.

The “Online” Resume

This is essentially your long resume (text) copy/pasted into the online forms. Most job board sites can not process pdf files but can process text files. So you will need to have your text (i.e., MS Word) resume available to either upload or copy/paste into the online forms. Keep in mind the look of your resume. Many times, the formatting of your resume is lost when you cut/paste it into an online form. You may have to revisit your resume online and tweak the formatting so that things line up okay.

Also, some online sites (thought tedious) want you to create a resume from scratch where you have to enter each job, and dates one by one into their forms and where they do not allow uploading.