submitting Res by email and writing sample format

Joseph · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

Hi,

Can anyone tell me what's the best way to format a resume when submitting it via email? Is it OK to use bullets or would it be better to stick to Text Only characters?

I'm especially concerned with putting the dates off to the side in chronological lists, since they sometimes get messed up by the mail program.

eg.

company xyz 2000-2003
such and such company 2003-2004

Is there a better way to format this kind of info when the resume is in the body of the email message?
Also, when submitting writing samples along with a resume, what kind of format should be used? Would a PDF be ok? For example 3 writing samples in one PDF document, labeled sample #1, #2, etc.
Or is there a better way? I'm pretty green when it comes to submitting writing samples.
Thanks. Any responses will be greatly appreciated

Nico · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

Everyone in the whole wide world uses Microsoft Word, unfortunately. If you read our advice you will see that format comes second to concept.

You are starting at the wrong end.

What writing samples are you going to include?

Joseph · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 2

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

Actually the resume was created and formatted in Word first. That's the version I will be submitting either as hard copy or as an attachment (or both)

But the advice I have received from a few different sources is that resume submissions via email should be pasted into the body of the mail message unless the employer has specifically requested an attachment.

This particular job opportunity is web-based freelance work and the employer has only supplied an email address (and a URL) along with the description. They haven't specified that they want attachments (and there's no physical bricks & mortar address)

As to the writing samples, I am still piecing them together. One is an article I wrote a few years ago for a local newsletter publication. Another is a press release I once wrote as part of a previous job,
and the third one I'm not sure about, possibly a biographical sketch?

I'm also wondering whether I should write something fresh (i.e. specifically for the submission) or just rely on previously written stuff. Other than that, I'm also not clear about what kind of document format to use for the samples. One way would be to scan the texts and convert them to pdf format, then submit that as an attachment.