Almost all companies especially recruitment agencies maintain a job board and a careers page.  So how do you ensure successful submission of your resume?

Here are a few tips to ensure your complete profile is saved and submitted:

1.     How often do you need to update your profile?  A common mistake made by applicants is they forget about their profile once they have posted it on a job board, thinking that recruiters and jobs would magically find them long after you have submitted it.  Make sure that your contact details and work experience are updated whenever there are changes.  It is best to update your profile every three or six months.  Databases show ‘Last Updated’ date along with your profile.

If they see that your profile was last updated over two years ago, you will be put in the bottom of the stack of applications as it is readily assumed that your contact information may have already changed, or that you may not be actively seeking a new job opportunity—especially if the requirement is urgent.

2.    How many job boards should I use?  You can sign up on as many job boards as you want, as this will increase your exposure online.  A number of the most popular job boards on the internet are: WorkAbroad.ph, JobOpenings.ph, Monster.com , Jobstreet.com, and JobsDB.com.  However, we recommend that you limit setting up a maximum of two or three accounts if you are not the type that would keep your profile updated within a three to six-month period.

3.    Do I submit in MSWord or PDF? Most databases use keyword search features to give recruiters an easier time looking through thousands of resumes in a matter of seconds.  It is highly recommended that you fill out the electronic application form and submit your resume in a native Word format to make finding job or skill matches faster and easier.  Aside from submitting your resume, we also highly recommend that you submit a covering letter.

4.    Using a dedicated personal email address. When submitting your resume online, make sure you use a personal and dedicated email address for getting notifications and invitations from prospective employers. You should not use your work or office email for this purpose. We recommend that you set up a separate personal account that you will use for all online job applications (example: juan.delacruz@yahoo.com or juan.cruz.apps@gmail.com.  This will make tracking your job application updates easier and separate from your regular personal email which can be clogged with all your other online accounts.  This also allows you to reply quickly using a business-like address.

5.    Keep track of your usernames and passwords.  Although job boards usually allow you to generate a new password if you have forgotten your original password, we highly recommend that you keep your user credentials in a central and safe place so it is easier for you to update your profiles, as needed, in multiple job boards in one go.

6.     Do not submit password-protected documents.  The objective of submitting your application online is to make recruiters find you quickly. It is not advisable to submit a password protected document because:

a.     It makes the recruiter skip your application altogether especially if they have a hundred more resumes to review

b.     It makes your application virtually invisible to your intended audience – recruiters.

Job boards are public databases where member companies post their vacancies at any given time and applicants see vacancies as they are posted. Employers receive job applications online for the entire period that the vacancies remain open. Millions of applications are submitted daily through job boards. These job boards are usually free to access and immediately give applicants options on how to submit their resumes. Follow these steps to ensure that your perfectly-crafted resume and covering letter get you to the next step on your road to a new job!