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A job seeker can now search for jobs without ever leaving home, but do they have a better chance online? Yes, anyone can now submit a resume, but the field is becoming much more crowded because of it. In a good job market the Hr departments get plenty of resumes. But in a bad job market with the Internet multiplying the resumes they get, it has become too overwhelming.

Put yourself in the shoes of hiring personnel and you'll quickly see how much of a drain it can be on their time to sort through so many candidates. Because their time is valuable, their goal suddenly becomes how to eliminate as many people as possible. Think of it as the American Idol auditions. Not the contestants that actually make it to the show, but the ones that are waiting in a line a mile long for hours.

Instead of a human, the new gatekeeper is scanning technology. That requires you to reevaluate your resume and make it more keyword friendly so you avoid being tossed out before you ever even get a chance. No panel of judges or friends calling in to vote for you. Just an unfeeling robot on the other end waiting to boot you out at the drop of a hat. Resumes should contain the same keywords that are listed in the ad for the job you're applying for. Make sure you have as many of those keywords as possible. This also includes the summary at the top of the resume.

The resume summary is basically an action packed introduction of your skills and accomplishments. It should contain four to six characteristics of those skills and accomplishments and should be at the top of the page. It gives the busy HR person a good idea of who you are and what you have accomplished in a short, easy to read paragraph. Add a headline that will compel them to read further and hopefully call you in for an interview. Make it clear that you will bring value to the position you're applying for. Do some homework on the company and the job and how you will be able to bring your expertise into play.

Because you may be writing a new summary for different job applications, make sure you proofread each one. Unlike the days when people traveled locally in person to give an employer their resume, job seekers now have more options geographically. With the click of a mouse the job seeker can send a resume all over the world. Make sure yours gets through the initial screening process or you'll never even get the chance to prove that you're the right person for the job.