Q. It has been a while since I have done a job search. What suggestions do you have for me to be more effective with my résumé and job search online?

No question that in today's job market, you have to be able to connect with employers via the Internet. The Internet clearly has altered the way you find a job and manage your career. And the great thing about an Internet search and posting your résumé is that it can be done instantly. The employer can post the position as soon as it becomes available and you instantly can post your résumé. No more 2-3 day "snail mail" wait.

The e-résumé
You first want to be able to develop and transmit effectively an electronic or Internet résumé. Let's begin be looking at the distinctions between the two:

An electronic résumé organizes and presents your qualifications in the order the computer wants them to appear. The information is stored in a database and typically will be searched by keywords. Therefore, you want to be sure you know the popular keywords and how to use them.

An Internet résumé is typically sent as either an e-mail message (embedded) or as an attachment. (I have been told by numerous hiring managers that more and more prefer the résumé embedded vs. attached due to "virus"possibilities when sending.) It is important to keep in mind that an Internet résumé most likely will not transmit in the same format in which you send it.

Don't just convert your "paper" résumé and send it as an Internet one. It won't convert bold lettering, italics, bullets, etc. The résumé usually will print out in the font the recipient uses, not the font on your computer.

Regardless of which résumé you use, I suggest simple fonts, such as Helvetica, Courier Sans Serif or Times, and size 10 or 12 point. And forget all the glitzy graphic techniques that your paper résumé might have. Scanners and databases won¹t be able to pick these up and most likely will not properly present your résumé information.

I also suggest, when possible, follow up with a paper version of your résumé via snail mail for two reasons:

1. In these days of "spam filters"and "blocks," you might not know if your résumé even gets through to the employer (unless they respond of course).

2. Internet résumés don¹t always transmit well and can be hard to read. The format most likely will change and might not be as appealing to the reader as a paper résumé. It never hurts, and for 37¢ postage, it could be well worth it!

Two other tips for sending résumés: use a professional e-mail address (one incorporating your name is best not "surferdude@something.com"; and do not use your e-mail address at your current employer.

Looking for listings
Now, some tips on "online job searches." Keep in mind, once your résumé is on the Internet, you open it up to the entire World Wide Web. Everyone and anyone can see it and it can be quickly passed around. This is both a pro and a con: pro ­ lots of employers can see it and response time is quick; con ­ lots of employers can see it, including your current employer! Be cautious if your current boss doesn't know you are looking for a new job, and you don't want him/her to know. There are lots of Internet job sites today, including www.DCJobs.com. I strongly encourage you also to look at industry specific sites. Assuming you are involved in assns, check out ASAEnet.org, Associationforum.org and, of course, AssociationTRENDS.com. SHRM, ASTD and other associations also have industry specific job sites.

I can't write a job search article without mentioning the importance of networking. All the online searches, responses and information gathering are great and very useful. But, do them in the evenings and weekends. Spend your time during the day meeting with people face to face. Nothing, not even online searches, replaces this. Building relationships and networking are critical components to an effective job search.

Wishing you the best of luck in your search (online and face to face)!