Resume: Electronic versus Hard Copy

The resume has traditionally been viewed as the leave behind piece, the brochure, or calling card.  It should make a statement. The presentation of the resume is part of the overall impression.  What type of envelope it comes in, what type of paper it’s printed on, the method by which it arrived. All these elements contribute to the overall impression.

It’s harder to stand out with an electronic resume. Sending in a resume by e-mail also fails to convey the effort that you put into hand delivering a resume in person. You are just one of many people who hit the send key that morning from the comfort of your own home while sipping your morning coffee.

Electronic resumes also run the risk of accidental modification. Depending on how many people screen the resume before it reaches its final destination, it could be altered or accidentally deleted from the system.

On the other hand, in the fast paced frenzy that is the business world of today; many managers are looking for instant gratification.  If they’ve posted a job, they may expect to see a response right away.  They may favor the people who react promptly. Sometimes, they don’t wait until the close date to start making phone calls and weeding out the first round of applicants.

There are myriad other reasons why electronic resume are popular with employers including the fact that it’s easy to file, sort, and track.  It saves time and space as everything is right at their fingertips.

When responding to job post you have to follow the specified instructions.  A job announcement will either have an e-mail address, a mailing address, or both. If only an e-mail address is noted, this indicates that this employer prefers to receive applications via e-mail. In this case, do not send your resume by mail even if you know the address of the establishment. You have little choice but to respect the employer’s wishes and follow instructions.

But if there is also a mailing address, this may be an indication that the employer prefers to open an envelope and read a well presented hard copy. You can even take it one step further and bring it by in person, thereby assuring the preserved state of the product. However impressive it may be to hand-deliver a resume, it may not be feasible.

It is entirely up to you at that point how you wish to present your application documents. 
When given the choice, consider all the variables before you make that decision.