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Resume
Preparation
Using the CareerFolios
Automated Design Tool
The
Four Steps:
Other
Design and Layout Tips
FAQ:
Frequently Asked Questions
If You
Need to Quit Before You're Done
Resume
Writing Tips and Resources
Confidentiality
Options
Maximizing
CareerFolios'
Effectiveness
Free
E-Mail Services
Power
Users' Tools
Resume
Preparation
If
You Don't Have a Resume – or
if Your Resume Needs Serious Help
If you don't have
a resume already, Jumpstart Your Online Job Search
in a Weekend walks you step-by-step through the process
of resume development for the Web. To order the book,
click here.
If you'd like to get
a "no obligation" assessment by a professional
resume writer, click here
to request a resume critique.
For tips on resume
writing, click
here.
- HOT
TIP: To ensure
optimum quality, we
recommend that you write your resume
off-line where you can fine-tune and spell-check
it before posting. When your text has been
properly finessed, you can cut and paste
text blocks directly into CareerFolios'
pre-formatted e-forms.
If
You Have a
Plain Text (ASCII) Resume
If your resume is
already in plain text format, you are ready to go! But
before you start, be sure to keep a backup copy (i.e.,
keep the original
intact for other uses.)
HOT
TIP: Most Internet
browsers allow
you to open a text file while you're online,
so the easiest way to cut and paste is to
open up your file online –
within a
smaller
window that you place adjacent to the
CareerFolios' design tool –
and them
simply cut and paste sections back and
forth into CareerFolios' e-forms.
If
You Have a Resume
in Word Processor Format
If you have a resume
that was created in a word processor (like MS Word or
WordPerfect), it will be easier to work with if you save
it as a plain text (ASCII) file before you start cutting
and pasting. Follow the directions below.
To
Create an
ASCII Version of your Resume
- First,
make a new copy of your resume and use your
word processor's SAVE AS function
to save it as a plain text file.
- Exit
your word processor then open the file again.
You'll find that all formatting enhancements (bold,
underlining, and so on) will be removed in the process
of saving your file in ASCII format.
- Eliminate
extra spaces and gaps caused by
tabs and indents. For optimum appearance, use only one
space after periods and other punctuation.
- Add your
e-mail address under your
telephone number if you haven't done so already. Double
check for accuracy!
- Delete
Non-scannable symbols: If you've
used ampersands (&) in your resume, write them out
and use the word "and" instead –
unless the
ampersand is part of a formal company name.
- Replace
percentage signs (%) with the word
"percent".
- Add space
around slashes. If you have used slashes (i.e.,
sales/marketing, accounting/finance, etc.), add a spaces
around the slash to ensure that both words are separate
and scannable:
Not
this: Sales/Marketing
But
this: Sales
/
Marketing
Final
Preparation Steps:
- Remove
ASCII bullets: Since the CareerFolios design tool
includes custom-designed bullets, you'll want to remove
asterisks, dashes or other ASCII "bullets"
before you cut and paste.
Spell-check
your document before you
transfer it to the CareerFolios site. (You can always
make corrections later, but it's better to catch errors
before posting your resume online.)
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Using
the CareerFolios
Automated Design Tool
Before you start cutting
and pasting, we recommend that you write your resume and
plan your format in advance. While you can always change
your headings and body text later, proper planning will
save you time and frustration. You can use your hard-copy
resume as a guideline, but realize that CareerFolio formatting
has its own unique benefits and limitations.
For helpful ideas
on planning and design, take a look at our CareerFolio
Samples.
Advanced
formatting tips are provided in the Power
User's Tools section.
Step
1: Setting up Account Information
Filling out the ACCOUNT
INFORMATION form is the first step in creating
your CareerFolio. In this section, you'll also select
a password so that you can access your CareerFolio later
make revisions or add new information. (If you forget
your password, we'll e-mail it to you, but it's a good
idea to write it down.)
The
way you list your name in the ACCOUNT INFORMATION
section will determine your basic URL structure. If you
list your name as "Fred" here (even though your
name is listed as "Frederick" on the resume,
your CareerFolio will use "Fred" when creating
your URL. URLs are automatically assigned –
based on your name –
and cannot be changed or modified once created.
Step
2: Choosing Your Layout / Design
- First, review
the layouts – Remember,
you can change your design any time you like with a
simple click of the mouse – as many times as you
want.
- To see a full-size
CareerFolio design, click on the thumbnail image of
it.
- To select
a layout, click on the small button above it.
- After selecting
a layout, scroll down and click on the "Go to Step
3" button.
Step
3: Start Building Your Resume
The first step in
building your resume is to verify that contact information
is accurate, especially your telephone number and e-mail.
There
are several options for telephone numbers (home, work,
etc.) so be sure to select the right category for each
one you include.
- HOT
TIP: To maintain
confidentiality,
be sure to use a nondescript e-mail address.
In other words, do not use your name
in your
e-mail address (e.g., JaneJones@email.com).
We also caution you to not use your
employer's e-mail system. If you need to
set up another e-mail address, click here for
a list of sites that offer free e-mail service.
Confidentiality
Options
If your job search
needs to remain confidential, you should remove your name
and contact information to maintain your privacy.
To create a confidential CareerFolio, follow these easy
steps as you are completing Step 3:
-
Select the
CONFIDENTIAL option.
-
Delete your
name and telephone number so they don't appear on
your posted CareerFolio.
-
You may want
to camouflage employers' names by describing them
only in general terms. In other words:
Not
this: ABC Manufacturing
Company, Plano, Texas
But
this:
High-tech manufacturing
firm based in the Southwest.
- If
your name is part of your e-mail address, we suggest
that you select a new e-mail name that will camouflage
your identity.
Step
4: Paste In Your Resume Contents
First, setup a category
heading by choosing one from the options provided in the
CHOOSE
A CATEGORY bar. We have 80 possible
categories, so you should be able to find the heading
you want. Most job seekers start with SUMMARY
STATEMENT
or OBJECTIVE,
but
you may use any header you like.
HOT
TIP: Setting up
your CareerFolio is
much easier if you plan your layout (and
determine the order of your categories) before
you start cutting and pasting. However, you
can reorder your categories later if you
need to.
Body
Text Formatting Options
After
you select a heading/category, you will be asked how you
want the body text within that section to be formatted.
There are five options to choose from.
CareerFolios was designed to provide
complete flexibility
in text layout. Select
the layout that fits your needs, then scroll down and
click the CLICK
HERE TO CONTINUE
button.
Text
formatting options include:
- Text
in paragraph format (no bullets)
- All
bullets
- Introductory
text paragraph followed by bullets
- Bullets
followed by text
- Text
followed by bullets, then more text
Note:
You can insert additional formatted sections later,
so don't worry if you make the wrong selection - you
can change it later.
Cutting
and Pasting Tips
Using a Windows-based
PC, click on FILE
in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, click on
OPEN,
and then go to the directory where your resume text is
stored.
Note: Each
bullet will need to be pasted in separately.
After pasting your
text into the forms, scroll (up or down) and click on
the SAVE THIS SECTION button.
- HOT
TIP: If you don't
know where your
resume is stored, go back to your word
processor, open your resume file and
save it to a disk. Then (in your e-mail
program) pull it up from the disk when
you're ready to start cutting and pasting.
Once your resume file
is open, move the file "window" next to the
CareerFolio form and re-size it
as needed. (For many people, a tall, thin rectangle works
best.) When the two windows are positioned properly, you can easily cut
and paste blocks of text from your resume into CareerFolios' form fields.
R.E.M.E.M.B.E.R...
You
can always come back and make
changes
or try different layouts later.
CareerFolios offers complete flexibility
and unlimited updating, so you
can "experiment" to your heart's content!
Click
Here for
CareerFolios Samples
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Adding
Additional
Jobs and Education Entries
In Step 4 ("Paste
in Resume Contents") go to the SECTION HEADING scroll bar. But instead
of selecting a section header, select the option called
"continue using your last header" (in lower
case letters). This adds a new section within the existing
heading.
When you're done,
click on SAVE THIS SECTION to return to the
"Edit and Review Content" page. Continue this
process to add new sections, category headings, and text.
- HOT
TIP:
As you build
your resume,
you will be able to see your "sections"
expand at the top of the "Edit and Review
Content" page. You can edit any of these
sections at any time, but to stay on track,
we recommend that you get your basic
structure down first, then go back and
edit later.
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If
You Need to
Quit Before You're Done
If you need to quit
before you are completely done, don't panic. Simply scroll
down and click on POST MY CAREERFOLIO.
This will save what
you've done up to this point. When you're ready, you can
come back to finish it up, edit it, or change the layout.
Resume
Writing Tips and Resources
Professional
Resume Writers
- Nationally Certified Resume
Writers (NCRWs)
www.nrwa.com/ncrw.html
- National Resume Writers'
Association (NRWA)
www.nrwa.com
HOT
TIP: Click
on MEMBERS
and then
use the search function to find a resume
writer by state, country, keyword, etc.
Resume
Writing Tips:
Click
here
Maximizing
CareerFolios' Effectiveness
Get
More Exposure:
Let employers and networking contacts know
about your CareerFolio by including your CareerFolio URL
(Web address) on:
-
The hard copy of your resume
-
ASCII resumes you post online
-
Fax cover sheets sent with your resume
-
Business and networking cards
-
All job-related e-mails you send
out (inquiries, follow ups, networking contacts, and
so on.)
Be
Proactive:
-
Keep your CareerFolio updated by adding new training,
new certifications, and new skills as you acquire
them. And don't forget to update e-mail
changes! Remember... you can make revisions any time
at no charge!
-
Because updates are easy to make,
you can "tweak" your resume as needed
to meet the requirements of individual jobs you are
applying for.
-
Instead of faxing or e-mailing your
resume to networking contacts, tell them about your
CareerFolio URL instead.
Uses
for CareerFolios:
The CareerFolio Web resume can
be used in several ways:
-
CareerFolios are excellent promotional
tools for job seekers, contract workers, and consultants
–
whether they have Internet
access or not.
-
In an active job search, the CareerFolio can be accessed by potential
employers and recruiters 24-hours a day –
even if you're on the road
or your system is down.
- In a passive job search, your CareerFolio is ready when you need
it –
and can be modified "on
the fly" to meet the requirements of specific opportunities.
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Free
E-mail Services
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Power
Users' Tools:
Advanced HTML
Formatting Enhancements
You
can use simple HTML programming codes to enhance your
CareerFolio Web resume, make job titles stand out, or
emphasize keywords. Follow the instructions exactly.
(Note: Color is added to aid comprehension only)
How
to make text bold:
Insert <b>
before the item you want bolded and </b>
after. Example:
Text
with HTML code added: <b>Marketing
Representative</b>
How
it appears online: Marketing Representative
How
to make text Italic:
Insert
<i> before
the item you want italicized and </i>
after.
Text
with HTML code added: <i>Marketing
Representative </i>
How
it appears online: Marketing Representative
How
to make text bold and
Italic:
Insert
<b><i>
before the word you want italicized and </b></i>
after.
Text
with HTML code added:
<b><i>Marketing
Representative </b></i>
This
is how it appears online: Marketing Representative
How
to Add a Hyperlink: You can also add hyperlinks
to your CareerFolios text if you'd like to connect to
other Web pages. Note: You can only link to existing
Web sites. CareerFolios does not store graphics or host
other Web pages.
HOT
TIP:
To
add a link, it's best to
set up the text and HTML code first,
then paste it into the CareerFolios
text box.
Underlined
Text: We
do not recommend using underlined text, as most readers
assume that underlined text is a hyperlink.
Note:
If you do not follow these instructions exactly
your hyperlink will not work.
For
example, let's say you worked for Nike and want to provide
a hyperlink to their site:
1) Type the link target –
the complete URL:
http://www.nike.com
2)
Now add the beginning tag (the following
sting of text)
before the URL: <A
HREF="
It
should look like this:
<A
HREF="http://www.nike.com
3)
Add the following string of text after the URL: ">
It
should look like this:
<A
HREF="http://www.nike.com">
4)
Now add the link text –
the representative text that describes where the link
will take the reader. For example, the link text to
the Nike site might say Nike's Web Site. To accomplish
this, we would type in the following:
Nike
Web Site
5)
To
complete this hyperlink, you will need to add the end
tag. The end tag is indicated
by the following text: </A>
The entire tag (based on the Nike example above), looks
like this:
<A
HREF="http://www.nike.com">Nike
Web Site</A>
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FAQ
- Can
I add bold or italics?
Yes, step-by-step instructions are provided in the
Power Users' Tools
section.
- Can
I change the order of the categories?
Yes,
you can change the order of your categories anytime
by simply renumbering them in the final setup process.
- Can
I change my URL (Web Address)?
No. URLs are created automatically based on the data
provided in the ACCOUNT INFORMATION
section. If there is another CareerFolio with the
same name on it, your URL may contain numbers as well.
- What
if I need a category heading you don't have?
We have created 80 (yes, 80!) category headings. In
the great majority of cases you should be able to
find what you need. However, if you have a suggestion
for a new category, please
let us know and we'll consider it: Click
here
- Can
I add a cover letter?
Yes. Simply select the Category Heading called COVER
LETTER and then paste in (and format) your
cover letter text like any other section.
- How
do I add a new job?
Click here for instructions.
- Why
is some of my text missing after I paste it in?
If parts of your text are missing, it is because
the text you are pasting has "paragraph breaks."
To avoid this problem, remove and breaks before pasting.
- Why
is there is extra white space after some paragraphs?
When this happens, it is usually caused by "extra
space" at the end of a sentence. Place your cursor
to the right of a period, click your left mouse key
and see if there is anything there to highlight. If
there is, highlight it, then press the DELETE
key.
- When
I changed my CareerFolios layout to another design,
it looks like some of the styles are mixed up. How
do I fix this?
Some
computers store earlier versions of CareerFolio styles
in cache memory. This a temporary "visual"
effect caused by your browser, not something that
anyone else can see.
- What
if I want another version of my CareerFolio?
If
you want a new version of your CareerFolio, you'll
need to simply set up a new version.
However – you can modify your existing CareerFolio
as much as you'd like:
-
Change your objective or job target for specific
jobs
-
Add new skill sections and keywords as needed
- Modify
the order of the categories
- Change
the layout design to suit your mood
- Switch
back and forth between listing your name and using
CareerFolios' confidentiality features
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If
you have any questions
that are not addressed in
this help file,
please contact us:
CareerFolios Customer
Support
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