Software and Email Communication Tip

I am aware that many of you are looking for jobs, and anything that I can do or any advice I can provide I will. I've always suggested being creative and finding new ways to approach hiring managers and HR professionals as well.

Take this scenario. It's 2003 and XYZ Company upgrades to Microsoft Office 2003 for a few hundred dollars per license. Now in a larger company that could be a few million dollar investment. Along comes 2007 and with it Microsoft Office 2007, and guess what? Some of those companies decide not to make that upgrade investment. They figure that what they have is working very well from their prior upgrade.

But there are some very important differences. Two that come to mind are the way that Office 2007 automatically saves Word and Excel documents with the .docx and .xlsx extensions.

Back to the company that is still using its Office 2003 software. You just called your potential future boss and had a great conversation about your experience and skills. And she asked you to forward your resume to the HR Manager assigned to filling her opening. You send your resume as a Word 2007 attachment and yep, HR can't open it with her Office 2003 version.

Does she care? Does she know who you are? Maybe or maybe not. And considering the competitiveness for all positions at this time, nothing may ever happen. Another great candidate may come along, etc.

So my suggestion is to use .doc and .xls extensions (you can save with those extensions even if you have the upgraded Office 2007). You will at least not be hurting your chances just because of some technological problem.

Any other technological advice or tips or real-life situations you can add? Please do.