Be Careful With Resume

           Placing your resume on as many Web sites as possible is the best thing you can do to find a job. Right? Actually it could be a big mistake! You are not only giving up control of your personal information, you are allowing it to be distributed into the abyss.  You are not sure who will see it, what they will do with your information or where it will end up.

            If you have an e-mail address, you have probably received information urging you to pay a fee to have your resume sent to hundreds of recruiters. This is called blasting. It might seem like a great idea at first glance, but the results and consequences may be quite different from what you expect.

            Most recruiters do not want to receive dozens or more resumes for positions they are not hiring for. Recruiters that continue to receive unsolicited resumes from a blaster probably will not take the time to view any from that source. Many recruiters become angry at cluttering up their e-mail addresses. In fact, the resumes they receive most likely will be deleted as soon as they are received.

            Blasters that send resumes tailored to the needs of recruiters may be of some value. Be careful in selecting only those that can be useful to both you and the recruiters they send resumes to.

            Posting your resume on different sites randomly may also not give you the results you expect. Carefully selecting sites that are related to your field may prove more beneficial.

There are several things to consider when sending out your resume. You probably want to either change or remove your resume from a site at some point. Can you go back and edit your information? Can you remove the resume when you want to? Is there a time limit on how long it will be listed? Not having this flexibility may come back to haunt you. Having two or more different resumes for recruiters to view may be harmful to you receiving an interview or even employment. After you receive a job, you probably don’t want your employer seeing your resume still floating around.

            Remember that putting your resume out there or having it blasted everywhere means that anyone can pick it up and use the information on it. What information are you making available? Is this information you want others to see and possibly use?

Do not provide information that can be used for identity theft. Never list your social security number or age. Remember that people can call you with the phone number you provide or look up where you live if you give out your home address. If this type of information is of concern to you, use an answering service or a PO Box. In some cases you may not want to provide your whole name. It may be better to use initials. It is better to be safe that sorry.

However, much like some blasters offer, there are services available that allow you to select which recruiters will receive your resume. This can help you find employment faster and save you time or money.

Your resume is your tool for marketing your skills, education and abilities you have spent years developing. It is of great value to you. Protect it as you would anything of great importance. Take the time to make sure it goes where it will be a benefit to you and not a burden.