WillworkI have my resume on this site.   It’s in plain HTML, marked up with the hresume microformat.  A number of people have asked me why I’ve done this, whether it is not just a waste of space.  The fact is that even though I have no email address or phone number on this site, just the contact form, I get at least 2-3 messages a month from recruitment headhunters with job opportunities.  Quite a lot of these are decent roles, they may not be exactly what I’m looking for, but it’s a good thing to get your name & resume out there.

One of the main reasons for this is that if you type “.net resume Sydney” into Google, my resume usually turns up on the first or second page.  I know some people have a resume linked to on their site in Word or PDF format.  Now this is fine, and Google can index both formats, but it is far easier for the recruiters to scan HTML quickly and there’s no need to load other applications.  They go through a lot of resumes every day, so anything you can do to make yours more visible is going to help you out. 

Now make it a cut-down version, don’t give them everything, and I really don’t suggest putting your address, phone number or email address on there.  As I said, as long as you have a contact form of some sort, you’ll still get contacted.  Also I suggest leading with a summary, sort of a mini-cover letter.  Outline what you do now, briefly what you have done & what you’re looking for in your next job.

Also, keep an up-to-date version of your resume in Word or PDF format that you can send back to recruiters when they contact you.  I keep a copy on a USB thumbdrive that I carry everywhere.  Once a recruiter contacts you, they’re going to want a file that they can print out & send to the prospective employers.

One more thing I’d mention is this: if you’re not interested in a new job, still put your resume up.  You may not need a job now, but odds are that you will within the next year or two.  By putting your details out there you increase your visibility and increase the likelihood of getting a job when you need it.

Never turn down an opportunity.