Heather Stone, President of myjobsearch.com indicated in an article on Career Magazine that a survey of job seekers at myjobsearch.com revealed that 90% of all resumes sent online never get a response.  To improve your chances of getting a response you should:

• Conduct research on the Internet and only submit your résumé to sites for which you are qualified.  Researching an opportunity before submitting a resume for it will cut down on the number of resumes that need to be sent.
• Use interactive chat rooms and discussion forums on company web sites to make connections within a company.  This is referred to as internetworking.  By making an online connection and being able to "link" through e-mail, web pages, and online portfolios you can demonstrate skills long before a resume is sent.
• Restructure your resume to meet the needs of every employer that receives it.  Make a specific objective each time you send the resume using a bullet and the job title - Sales Manager.
• As you identify target employers, you need to find the names of the person in charge of hiring and get on the phone.  This old fashioned approach is simply and surprisingly effective.  By making a phone call, showing interest and enthusiasm, you may be able to quickly arrange an interview with the hiring manager.
• More than 80% of employers prefer to connect with job seekers by referral.  Referrals may come from meetings with employees of target companies or members of associations (see section on networking).
• Respond to e-mail responses to your resume immediately.  Use an e-mail address that is professional, preferably with your first initial and last name.  You may want to have a separate e-mail address just for your job search.  Include all contact information in every e-mail that you send.  Employers and recruiters still prefer to respond by phone.
• Send your e-mail attachment or ASCII file cut and pasted in the body of the e-mail to yourself first to make sure that is aligned properly and reads well.
• Always send a personalized cover letter with the resume unless otherwise instructed.  This letter should be placed above the resume in the body of the e-mail.  The cover letter and resume should be sent together in one e-mail.
• If responding to an ad or a job posting, use the title and / or noted reference number as the subject of your e-mail message.
• If you find several good job listings at a specific site, consider posting your resume there.
• Always read the specific applications instructions for any job posted online and follow the instructions carefully.  One error may result in having your resume rejected.
• Maintain detailed records of where, when, and to whom your résumé is sent.  Otherwise you can become very confused.
• Remember, sending your resume to a well-researched, targeted audience with an appropriate message will greatly improve your chances of getting a response from resumes sent online.
• Never use the Internet as your only method for conducting your job search, use it as one of many methods, including old-fashioned networking, responding to newspaper, magazine, and trade journal advertisements, and calling targeted companies.

Before you post your resume:

• Be aware that you run the risk of identity theft.  In 2007, Monster.coms web site was breached and 1 million people who had posted their resumes were at risk of identity theft.
• Once you have posted your resume, it is a public document and you run the risk of it being seen by almost anyone.  If confidentiality is a major issue for you, think twice before posting anything on the Internet.
• Find out who has access to the database, how access is granted, and if your resume will be forwarded to employers.  Is it possible that your employer will see the resume?  If the answers make you uncomfortable, refrain from posting your resume.
• Determine if the job site charges a fee for posting the resume or for later updating the resume.  Try to find a site that allows unlimited updates without charges.  Avoid posting on sites that limit updates and / or charge for updates.
• Use a site that will delete your resume if it has not been updated in 3 months.
• Again, use this as only one avenue, continue using the other methods of job-hunting to ensure your success.