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PDF can be fine as an attachment (If they don't specify word) - But some systems that upload your attachment will use different characters in your resume. Several times after I load up my PDF resume, I had to review and retype several misspelled words (misspelled by the upload). - Verify, validate, confirm your information once uploaded.

I work for teh EDd and am sconisdered to be a resume writing specialist. I have researched this extensively and disagree with the author of this article. Not everyone has PDF writer or can use PDF if on a public computer. EDD for example does not even have Word on our lobby computers so people are sending resumes in their email that they copied and pasted usually from a Word document or Monster or Caljobs website. Employers still want to see chronological resumes, I have spoken to many HR managers and gaps in employment usually mean trouble in employers minds so leaving off irrelevant employment and thus creating a gap is not advised at all. I also know that many ATS systems need a objective to find out what position the person is applying for and then can bring up the job order and search for the keywords that job order requires to see if the person matches. i agree sentences that say "Seeking a job that will allow me to use skills and abilities" is very passe. However objective means what position are you applying for. I have seen on some professional resumes the word Target replacing objective but you do not mention that in the article. Look at info online by Pat Kendall a Nationally Ceritifed Resume Writer in Advanced Resumee Concepts or Kennedy in her book The Electronic Resume Revolution.

Objective in resume language really means What position are you applying for in the 21st century not goal in life which many people interpret it to mean. I work for the Employment Dvlopment Department and have been told by people In Human Resources who use scanners that a specific title only objective is needed in large databases to tell the computer what position the person is applying for so that the job order can then be brought up and then matched by the keywords. In some cases it is even recommended to put objective and the job requisition number. I agree no sentences telling a employer that you want to fins a job that will allow you to utilizie your skills and abilities is very passe and personally nauseating to me to read. It show no creativity or individuality just a old coopied sentence some temp agency ca,me up iwth in the early 80's and is still unfortunatly being taught to use by other people in my agency and in the General Relief offices and Worksource Centers. It is a sentence that some employers have told me gets a resume int he trash faster than anything. If it is not telling the employer the title of the position you are applying for it is a waste of space.