What file name do you give your resume and cover letter – it matters!

Do you recognize any of these titles in your files: Resume 2020, Kim’s Resume, Resume 1, Resume 2, Resume Old, Resume New? Have you ever sent off a resume and put the company in the file name?  They already know who they are - what they need to know is who you are, what the document is and what the document relates to. 

Often, we name the file to serve our own filing purposes.  When saving your resume give the file a title that matters to the reader, whether that be an ATS or a human. 

There are 3 pieces of information to include in the file name:

·       Your first and last name (or last initial if you have a long name)

·       The type of document (resume or cover letter)

·       The name of the position and/or the job/ID/Req #

When titled correctly, an employer can easily match your resume to the position you are applying to.  When a company is looking for several people to fill one job title, the # attached to the position may signify the location, department and/or other detail(s) relevant to the position.

Example:         Janice Smith, Program Manager #54321, Resume

Janice Smith, Program Manager #54321, Cover Letter

Small things make a big difference!  For more best practices on resume and cover letter writing, visit our Virtual Resource Room.