Updating Best Practices: Applying On-Screen Reading Strategies to Résumé Writing. Issue 4 (December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Diaz, Charlsye Smith
• Is Part Of: Business communication quarterly. Volume 76:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: 427
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2013-12
• Subjects: résumé -- résumé design -- electronic résumés -- job-search communication; Business education; Communication in management; English language -- Business English; United States; 658.450715
• DOI: 10.1177/1080569913501860
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1080-5699

Abstract

The best practices presented in textbooks and professional publications provide separate guidelines for paper-based and electronic or "scannable" résumés. This article recommends changing these practices so that writers can prepare one résumé for both paper and electronic delivery. These recommendations focus on three areas. Résumés should be formatted based on eye-tracking research about on-screen reading. Specific guidelines should help writers decide when to include an objective or summary. Keywords should be prioritized over active verbs. Last, résumés still must be formatted for paper but designing for on-screen reading is now equally or more important, and best practices need to reflect this change.