In ideal circumstances a resume contains nothing but plain (visually appealing) text and maybe a photo. However, since most jobs are available to be applied for over the internet, there are a lot more possibilities regarding what should be in a resume and what shouldn’t.
Many wonder where it is right to include a link to a website, which can be a huge asset for anyone who wants to add extra information into the mix but doesn’t want to overcrowd their CV with information that should otherwise be omitted.
It’s certainly a good idea to include those extra links, but that doesn’t mean your resume should contain a link replacing every second word: links should be carefully applied to have the right effect on employers and recruiters.
Adding a link to your resume directing the reader to a certain website is not only convenient but, as mentioned, it can be an effective way of conveying additional information that might land you the job without actually occupying valuable space in your CV. Not only that but using links in the right way proves that you are tech-savvy and are ready to use necessary measures in order to reach your goals – in this case, getting the job you are applying for.
The most obvious information you should turn into a link is your email address, and thankfully word editors usually turn email addresses into links automatically by hitting space or enter after typing the address. If you have your own online portfolio or blog, then drawing attention to these can be hugely helpful to your application. Additionally providing links for the companies you have worked at and universities, colleges and courses you attended will make it easier for the recruiter to find any further info if they want it; in these cases it is enough to link to the homepage of these institutions, but if linking to examples of your work – as with a portfolio – then ensure the link is to a specific web page. Another important element to consider is your LinkedIn profile, where the URL can be the shortened version for convenience and better visibility.
Speaking of the URLs, though, it is better to use a shortened version only if the link remains recognizable: recruiters and employers won’t be clicking on links they don’t trust. In this way you should use one of the better known and trusted link shorteners such as Bitly or Google’s own link shortener. Better still, customizing the shortened URL to something recognizable and relevant to where the link sends you will make it look more appealing in your CV. If the link cannot be shortened then you have no choice but to include it as it is without hyperlinking it; though hyperlinks definitely look better, full URLs don’t lose their purpose when your resume is printed out. Besides, if the rest of your CV is convincing enough, the employer will want to look up those links properly anyway.
The latest trend in resume creation is the inclusion of QR codes, a simple yet brilliant way of replacing those long URLs that look terrible when printed. Although the QR code still needs to be explained and if applied in an incorrect manner it can occupy valuable space on the resume – like lengthy URLs – it has huge advantages over providing an entire link. The biggest advantage is that it works well for both printed and digital resumes, but it is such an attention grabber that you can be sure that the employer or recruiter will remember your resume and will check again. To truly blow recruiters, employers or anybody’s mind, QR codes can be applied to business cards as well.
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