Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier to avoid the most common and apparent resume mistakes such as typos and the likes. However, there’s one resume mistake that’s so simple, you wouldn’t think you’d miss it. The funny thing is, even the savviest of job seekers tend to overlook it with all the verifying, double-checking and proofreading before submitting the application. Sadly, this often-neglected, small, simple thing can either shore up or knock down the first impression you’re trying to make on a probable employer.

This simple little thing is the filename you use for your resume before you send it.

If you think back, have you been sending attachments with filenames that are clear, professional-sounding and indicate attention to detail? Or filenames which give an impression of being hurriedly done and lack attention to specifics?

It’s unfortunate that majority of job candidates don’t seem to realize that when resumes and cover letters are submitted through e-mail, first impression starts as soon as the hiring manager sees the filename used for the attached documents when they open the e-mail.

Here are some tips on what NOT to use as filename (or part of the filename) for your resume and cover letter attachments:

Another company’s name that’s different from that to where you’re submitting the documents to
Has old dates
Contains typos
Names that only you can understand and relate to

The most common resume filename blunder that virtually beats all slip-ups is simply using the “generic” Resume.doc or MyResume.doc, making it nearly impossible for the hiring manager to make a distinction without having to open the document. So the next time you attempt to modify your resume to fit in to a particular job opening, use filenames that sound professional, consequential and specific to make it more convenient for the hiring manager to identify and distinguish in the future.

It’s a generally reliable common practice to use a “formula”; for instance, lastname_firstnamepositionbeingappliedfor using either title or reference number for the latter.
If you’re sending the resume and the cover letter as separate documents, make sure you indicate which one is the resume and which one is the cover letter, use appropriate filenames accordingly.
Details may be tedious but they are necessary and important.

No matter how minutiae you think filenames are, use names that will contribute to a great first impression.

Tags: filename, hiring manager, mistakes, resume advice, resume writing

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 4:41 am and is filed under Applying for a Job, Free Advice, Resume Do's and Don'ts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.