How do I successfully email my resume?

Question

I have a resume on Word and when I tell SBCGlobal to email it, something gets screwed up and the person at the other end sees a mess! The email program has all sorts of fun with the traditional format. So, I need to configure an email-ready resume. Trouble is: I have no idea what one of those looks like. I've trolled around the net, can find all sorts of resumes, but nothing for emails! Help!

Answer 1

You can do a few things to see what's happening. One suggestion copy your resume and paste it into wordpad which is found off the start-> programs-> Accessories menu in Windows. This makes it into a .txt file Save it and send it.



A text file (or plain text file) is a computer file which contains only ordinary textual characters with essentially no formatting.



Another option is to open word and click on formatting, reveal formating (or Shift+F1) and then click CTRL+A and select clear all formatting which will do essentially the same thing. This is format free and ready for email

Answer 2

If simply adding it as an attachment doesn't solve the problem (as many others have suggested) it could be that your resume is overly formatted. Possibly with one of Word's resume templates. Hiring managers hate those templates, because they always look messed up on other computers beside the one they were created on.



The best way to make a resume is to use as little formatting as possible. Use bold, underline, or italic to highlight headings. Use the enter key a couple times to seperate sections, and use the tab key to indent sections. These are very basic functions that Word has supported for years. Do not use boxes, pictures, strange fonts, and never use the resume templates. These are fine for printing a resume, but not for emailing one.



If this still does not work, you can copy and paste the resume into Notepad to work with the resume as a .txt file. No formatting (no bold, italic, or tabbing). Use enter to seperate sections, and use all caps to make headings stand out.

Answer 3

Your best bet is to change it into a .pdf file which will keep all of the formatting.



The best way I have found to do this it to go to Zamzar.com (completly free) upload your resume, and in the files list select pdf. Then enter in your email address (They do not spam, or send you any unwanted email, just the file) and hit 'Convert.' In a couple minutes you will get an email with a link to where you can download the file. From there attach the new file in your email and everything should work just fine.



By the way there is a slight chance it will end up in your spam email, but most likely you need to wait a few more minutes, the sender of the email will just say something like Zamzar.

Answer 4

Okay, you've gotten tons of responses, but I just wanted to put my two cents in.



Although it seems to be pretty taboo to do so, I recommend copying and pasting it in the body of the email. It avoids the response of "Please resend in (another) format." Also, it's very convenient for the employer. I recently started doing this and it didn't hinder my job search at all (I just got an amazing job after doing this). If anything it only helped. I was called in for an interview more than any other time I've sent out my resume.



I just wrote a quick blurb (in letter form) at the top to the effect of:

Please review my resume, which I have pasted below for your convenience, and contact me to discuss same.



The only problem I've had with doing that is when one company replied stating "There is no resume attached." But honestly, I don't think I'd want to work for a company who doesn't even read the emails they receive, especially when they're the ones looking for an employee. It just made them look unprofessional.



As for formatting, I'd just paste it first in notepad/wordpad to make sure there are no unnecessary spaces or lines, and then just paste it into the email.



When all is said and done, your skills, experience, and qualifications should speak for themselves. Even the most visually appealing resume can't compensate for those. Good luck!

Answer 5

It sounds like you're possibly sending your resume by pasting it into the body of the e-mail? If that's the case, then attaching the resume to the e-mail would be the quick fix. If you're using Outlook or Outlook Express, there are several ways to send it. When you're in Word, you can click on the "file" menu and go down to "Send" and then choose the "send as attachment". You can also open a new e-mail and choose the "Insert" menu, then go to "file" and search for the file that holds your resume. The other option to attach is by dragging your resume's icon into the body of the e-mail.



You may also try sending your resume through one of the e-mail services such as Yahoo, Google or others. You may have less problems that using one of those services.



As a recruiter, I would NOT recommend sending resumes as a PDF and 95% of recruiters would agree. They're not an efficient resume for us to work with and we'll often send an e-mail asking for a Word version.



If you're working off a Mac, I'd recommend getting support from Apple. Good luck!

Answer 6

Hello... If it's a CV, I strongly suggest you don't include graphics, etc. A CV is supposed to a brief but very concise document, trying to send as much relevant and powerful information about yourself as possible, in the minimum of space, because people reading them do NOT want to waste time in grinding through unnecessary detail. Try not to have it longer than two pages long. Long CV's are a definite put-off!



Therefore, make it a MS Word document, grammar and spell check it first (!!!!!), then do File, Save As, and save it in a location where you KNOW where it is! Then open your email programme and attach your CV from the location you just saved it to. This should work fine. Most company's have CV's to be sent as an MS Word document as a requirement, and any other types are not acceptable.



All the best.



Reevo

Answer 7

Use word to email it. An even better suggestion would be use something other than M$ Word to create your resume. What you might ask, well Open Office of course! http://www.openoffice.org



And by the way, you can save a word document as a PDF using word, for free. Wow, that's a contradiction...well without need to purchase adobe acrobat, is what I mean.

Answer 8

Since you have the resume typed out in MS Word, it carries with it (usually not visible to you) formatting (such as fonts used, sizes etc.) The first issue is how you are actually sending this resume to [e-mail] (say).



If you copy + paste the text from word directly into your email client and send a message, most likely the hidden information will be messed up. There are a few alternatives:



1. Compromise on formatting and make your resume text-only e.g. typing it in notepad (without formatting)



2. Send your word document as an attachment with your email, which I'm not sure how your SBC account will send out.



3. Install a free PDF printer (e.g. http://www.cutepdf.com/ ) on your PC and from your Word document, issue File --> Print and select "CutePDF Writer", which will convert your resume to a PDF file ( if it helps, P stands for portable :) ). Now you need to send this file as an attachment with your e-mail message. This might also depend on how your SBC account sends out attachments. (Possibly same problem as option 2)



3. Upload your resume to a free file server online (e.g. http://www.bigupload.com/ ). It will give you a link to the file you have saved on their server. Send that link to the person who wants it. This is guaranteed to work. If you need to, you can delete this file after a while, or even send the same link to multiple people. This method is guaranteed to work because you're not depending on your SBC account for anything except sending out a webpage link and we know that works.



Good luck!

Answer 9

Just write a resume in Microsoft Word and then save it.

File--->Save As

Then select where you want to save it.

Change file type to rich text format.



Whatever email you use when you are "composing" a message there should be somewhere to click that says "attach file." If you click on attach file then you can select your resume and attach it to the email.



Microsoft Word files are saved with the extension .doc.

That's great unless the other person does't have Word on their computer. Then they could have a problem with opening it. Anytime I write something in Word I save it as .rtf (rich text format) as the "file type"..........a file saved as .rtf can be opened with any word processing program with no problems. So when I send someone a document I don't have to be concerned with what programs they have on their computer. Do they use Word, or Works, or Wordperfect?



Of course you can always the change the extension (file type), but when I am sending something I assume the recipient doesn't know computers that well.

Answer 10

I have never had a problem with just creating a resume in Microsoft Word and adding it as an attachment in my email program. PDF is another good example, if you want to spend the money and get Adobe Acrobat. Microsoft WORD is on virtually every PC in corporate America.

Answer 11

There is a free web site you can go to to download a resume wizard, it takes you piece by piece on each part of the resume, making it look very professional and it is SO easy to do. Then you can just email it to the company you want to get your resume, I actually just did this.

Answer 12

I'm thinking that SBCGlobal is your email program, I hope it allows you to attach files to it. If so, follow these steps:



First create your resume in word or PDF and then save the word or PDF file to your desktop,

Second go to your email application and select the attach file button. A dialog box should open allowing you to browse to your desktop and click on the file you just saved to your desktop. Your email application opens the file for it to be uploaded to the email you are sending. Select finish and allow a moment for your file to be attached.

3. When your email returns to the compose page, you can attach more files or continue as you normally would with your email (type in the email address you're sending to, type in a subject like "resume + todays date", type a brief intro cover letter to introduce you resume).

4. Finally, email it !!!



And that's how you send a resume through email so it won't be affected by your email application. The receiver of your resume can now download the file you sent them, open it from wherever they save it to on their computer, and then view it as a word file or PDF file just like you see it on your word program.



If your email program somehow messes up a file that you attach to it, I'd start searching the help files or tech support of SBCGlobal. And if SBCGlobal doesn't allow you to attach files in this way and send them, it might be easier to just open a free email account with Yahoo! than to going looking all over the place for this email ready program you mentioned.



***NOTE**** I don't know what the process is for SBCGlobal, but with other major email programs, you must attach your files first !!!!!!! Then type your email info afterwards. If you type your email first, and then go to attach something your email gets erased!!!



So easy, and fun too!!! Good luck in finding a job!!!

Answer 13

Assuming there is some reason you cannot attach your resume (as would be the proper thing to do for being professional)...... Create a resume in note pad (as a .txt document), it will cut & paste fine. The proprietary formatting of MS Word will not copy & paste accurately all the time.

Answer 14

Create your resume using word, or a program like that, then send it as an attachment.

Answer 15

always send the resume as an attachment.

save the resume as a different word document version (save as).

the person doing the hiring may still be using word 97/2000/xp/2k3.

always use the format that they want it in. If they want it in word send them a word document, you can always convert it to pdf like other people have suggested. but in doing so send both

Answer 16

I would save it under Word or some program like that and then attach your resume. This way, it will not alter the appearance.

Answer 17

you should save a copy of your resume in .txt or .doc format otherwise when you attach it and send, it may not come out right when your perspective employer opens the file. Some companies will specify what fomat they prefer.

Answer 18

Save it as .txt file

Open your word doc and click "Save As" - then change to .txt



You should eliminate all formatting except for hard returns - it makes your resume "boring" but it will get through! (either as an attachment or in the body)



Best of luck!

Answer 19

well, you could try and copy and pasting your resume without any hitches. also, a good tip is to have an email just for work. you dont want [e-mail], you want something like jane_doe@ blah blah.com, know what i mean. good luck

Answer 20

Also . We have innovation selling your self (skills and expereriences in format called Resume Video. It is really give the employers idea who are and get more impression of your selling tools.

Answer 21

Convert your resume to a .pdf file. Adobe has a free service online. go to http://createpdf.adobe.com/

Answer 22

The .pdf format suggestion is a good one. You never know what word processor the user on the other end is going to have, and even if you paste it directly into the e-mail, you don't know what their e-mail program is going to end up making it look like.

Answer 23

Just copy paste it in the BODY of the e-mail. That's it! If mail goes through, resume is there...

Answer 24

Hey there,

If you want to download Adobe Acrobat you can download it here for free http://bitly.com/1p33M4j

It's a must have program.

I hope it helps

Answer 25

I am not an expert in this but i would like to suggest that as far as possible please avoid graphical things available in word. As it might not be supported by the version of word that is there with the person who receives it.



second thing is that make sure that you have the most popular version of word available at your disposal.



hope this answers your question :)

Answer 26

attach it as a microsoft word file, layed out in a format you want. then, make the latter part of the email your cover letter.

Answer 27

You need to attach the file to the email and then when the reciever opens it they will see just as you saved in the file.

Answer 28

I'm assuming you are using word. So attach the document to the e-mail. It is sure to arrive intact.

Answer 29

Convert your word file to PDF format, it should work after that.

Answer 30

you would email it just like you would send an email

Answer 31

you can attache the document

Answer 32

try sending it as a fax

Answer 33

I'd suggest contacting the company for a physical address and sending them a hard copy.

Answer 34

***** i dont know