If you’re anything like me, you find updating your CV to look for a new job about as enjoyable as cleaning up vomit. In fact, a good friend of mine is so intimidated by the thought of putting a new resume together that she’s stayed with the same organisation for 15 years. Seriously.
Accordingly, when I heard rumours that the CV was “dead” – or at least dying – I could not have been happier. What I didn’t realise, however, was that it’s being replaced (or supplemented) by something involving a lot more work: a compelling online presence.
At this stage, the trend is confined pretty much to creative and digital fields because blogs, web profiles and social media provide an excellent showcase for creative work. They also provide evidence that you’re social or digital media savvy, which is increasingly valued by employers. That said, the trend isn’t confined to sexy industries. A linkedin profile, for example, is pretty much expected if you are a professional in middle or senior management.
The benefits to employers of these ‘alternative CVs’ are obvious: a person’s online presence tells you way more about them than a static 4-page document ever could. Some sites, like Linkedin, even help employers head hunt potential candidates.
There are many different ways to construct an online profile, and what you do will depend on your industry and the time you’ve got to put into it. Tying the various strands of your online profile together is a good idea. For a great example of this, check out this academic’s profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/clay.spinuzzi#about
As you can see, it links to all manner of social media as well as a more formal CV and blog. A potential employer only has to glance at this profile to realise this is a dude who is seriously into what he does.
A blog is usually the best way to showcase your talents and yourself, but it will take serious work and there’s no point starting one unless you are committed to making it work. An unloved blog is worse than no blog at all and screams “this person is not a finisher”.
Also, if you’re going to use a blog – or any form social media – as part your resume, you need to put enough of your personality into it to make it interesting, but hold enough back not to alienate recruiters. Your views on Web 3.0 are interesting, your love of authentic Thai food is cute, your commitment to the legalisation of cannabis is not something you need to share! And you’d better believe that employers and recruiters are Googling you, whether or not they admit it.
So, to answer the question at hand, it would seem that the CV is not so much dead as on steroids. If you don’t want yours to look weak, start thinking of ways to beef it up online.
And if you’ve got any great examples of online resumes – or want to showcase your own – be sure to leave a comment below. We’d love to see your stuff!