Don’t Let Your Resume Be Considered Spam

Have you caught yourself after many long hours on the computer searching for a job, straining to focus and asking yourself, “Did I already apply to this job? It looks familiar.” But you quite can’t remember, so you still click submit anyway. If you’ve been in this situation, you are one of many in the job market making the same mistake: not keeping track of where you submit your resume and as a result, applying for the same job multiple times.

As an applicant, you are advertising yourself, your skill set and your work history. Marketing experts suggest creating and maintaining a “personal brand.” But when you submit your resume multiple times to the same position, your resume could be acknowledged as spam. Spam can be defined many ways, but is generally any unsolicited email. Do you want your resume to be bulked in the same folder as pesky advertisements or links to viruses? Do you want what you’re trying to sell—your brand—to be put in the junk folder?

The easiest way to prevent your resume from becoming spam is through keeping a running list of everywhere you submit your resume or profile. It doesn’t matter if you use Excel, Word or the old standby of paper and pen to craft your resume and send it in three different formats, you don’t want to submit duplicate content. When making the list of jobs you’ve applied to, keep in mind the who, what, where and when questions:

• Who am I submitting my resume to? If you don’t see the company name, write down the source.
• What is the title and description? Be specific.
• Where is the position? List the address, city and state.
• The date when you submitted your information.

If you are submitting through a third party, ask for the end client’s name. You will need to reference this information to check for any duplicates. This list will also serve as a way for you to follow up on positions you have not heard back on.

I often get asked, “Won’t my resume be viewed more if I submit it multiple ways?” The answer is maybe, but it may not be perceived as a good thing. A Hiring Manager or HR rep that is receiving applicant resumes has limited time and many other responsibilities along with a high volume of applicants to screen. They are quickly scanning your resume for the most important information:

• Who is applying?
• What position are they applying for?
• Where are they located or where are they in their career?
• Why are they applying to this position?
• Does this person have the required skills and/or experience?

If you submit your resume for the same position numerous times, whether directly or through other sources, these busy Hiring Managers now have to spend additional time looking at something they have already seen. Some duplicates are caught quickly, while others may not be. If you were on the receiving side and was sent the same thing twice, three times, etc. would you be impressed or annoyed? Does submitting your resume multiple times show your attention to detail or your organizational skills? Take it from me: no, it does not.

So the next time you are browsing social media networks, websites or job boards looking for opportunities, have your list ready, and limit the risk of sending your resume to the same job multiple times. Give your resume the best chance of being viewed: don’t duplicate. If you’d like more advice on resume best practices, schedule a free consultation with a regional recruiter today.

Do you think submitting a resume more than once could be considered spam?