Dear Cindy – Got Résumé?

Do I really need a résumé?

Sincerely,

Somewhat Lazy

Even if all the jobs that you apply for require only application forms, having an up-to-date résumé will save you time and mental anguish when you try to recall when you got your diploma/degree, what your dates of employment were, and your own phone number (which you may not know because you never call yourself). Further, some employers require a résumé because they use Applicant Tracking Systems (also known as Candidate Tracking Systems), which screen suitable applicants using key words found in their résumé.

On a side note: if you plan to attend job fairs as part of your job search, you may want to have business cards to hand out along with your résumé.

Also see Write the Right Résumé and Job-Search Checklist.