October 31, 2013 | 5 min read
Is Your Resume Mobile-Friendly?

Tandym Group

Quickly-evolving technological trends have given many jobseekers the ability to stay abreast of career opportunities regardless of where they are.  In fact, close to 77 percent of jobseekers are actively using their mobile device as a tool in their job hunt, both to apply for positions as well as to stay cognizant of new job listings through notifications. On the flip side, employers are also taking advantage of mobile technology to source candidates and review resumes. In fact, to make the search and apply process easier than ever before, many companies are now using mobile-optimized design that allows their websites to automatically adjust to fit any screen size.

As the hiring and job seeking process continues to become more mobile, it might be time for jobseekers to create a mobile-friendly resume that makes it simple for hiring managers to easily view their background and experience in a smaller amount of space.

To keep up with this technological age of the hiring process, here are some things to consider when creating your mobile-friendly resume.

Is Your Content Strategically Placed?

While it’s easy for a recruiter to do a quick skim of a traditional resume printed on paper, the smaller screen of mobile devices can sometimes make scanning the whole document difficult. As a result, the top third of your resume is most important because if they like what they see, they’re more likely to scroll through the rest, so treat this section as prime real estate by showcasing your most relevant skills and qualifications for the position.

Is Your Layout Streamlined?

Since your resume is going to be viewed on a smaller screen, you can optimize that portal by simplifying your layout. Because phone screens are vertical, users prefer to scroll down when reading, so make your resume as streamlined as possible, reducing the layout to one column. This will ensure that your resume reads the way you intended.

In terms of stylistic details, it’s best to stay basic with standard font types (for example, Times New Roman, Verdana, and Arial), and remove any complicated add-ons, such as any colors, images, tables, and extra graphics.

If you’re worried about your resume looking disorganized, try using font sizes between 10pt to 12pt to differentiate your content between sections.

Is Your File Size Too Large?

Hiring managers using mobile devices to review resumes need to have the ability to download your resume in just a few seconds. As a result, if your resume file is too large you run the risk of not even being seen as a candidate for the position by the hiring manager, so stick to plain-text and a simple format to help those opening your resume avoid any unnecessary hassle.

Can You Easily Copy and Paste Your Resume?

Knowing that many users may find it difficult to save and upload a resume from an iPhone for instance, employers are increasingly offering copy and paste options for submitting resumes. With this in mind, as a jobseeker, you want to make sure that you have one version of your resume that is easy to copy and paste.

For more assistance on creating a mobile resume, there are plenty of apps to help such as Resume Maker On-the-Go. A mobile-friendly resume can give you the advantage over other applicants, and by preparing your applicant materials for all mediums, you increase your chances of having your resume viewed by hiring managers, opening up the number of professional opportunities available to you.

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