A scannable résumé is a paper copy of your résumé that could be submitted with your regular traditional résumé. This is simply a way for employers to get your data from the printed page to their database. A way of double-checking to see that your résumé stands up to the scan test, is to scan it yourself and be sure that it is appropriate. Use some of the guidelines from the plain text section above for help in scannable renditions. This used to be very common practice however, now more employers are looking for electronically submitted resumes. (Sample: html, pdf)
When sending your scannable résumé, use a laser-jet printer rather than a dot matrix to ensure the best print quality. Also, print on white letter size paper. Do not use colored or odd-sized paper. Do not send a photocopy as OCRs (Optical Character Readers) sometimes misread photocopied documents. Finally send the résumé (along with a cover letter) in a letter sized envelope. This will ensure that the scannable résumé does not become creased in any manner. Remember not to staple your résumé pages together. It is also a good idea to somehow identify the scannable résumé.
Tips for creating a Scan Friendly RésuméThere are several easy steps you can follow to transform your existing résumé into one that is scannable.
Your résumé will be one of many stored in the employer’s database. Therefore, it is a good idea to include an extra category that would not be part of a traditional résumé. This category should be entitled “Keywords” or “Talents.” In this category you can list nouns used to describe the job and yourself. These nouns can encompass technical jargon, specific skills that relate to the job, degrees you hold, job titles, personal traits, and other buzzwords. This category should be the last section of your résumé. The advantage of this section is that by listing these descriptive words, you increase the chance that the computer will select your résumé when it is performing its search.