Is it true? Are traditional resumes facing extinction?
Well, some feel so … seeing traditional resumes as an outdated piece of job-search collateral. When one considers the new technologies being applied to perform job-search tasks, such as FaceBook and LinkedIn, one really needs to wonder exactly when the Internet *meteor* will arrive to finally “kill the resume.”
When you need an answer who do you call? You call on the experts; those on the hiring and recruitment side of things. So, I asked recruiters and hiring professionals two questions:
Will LinkedIn eventually replace the resume?
What’s the view from your side of the desk?
I’m amazed and honored with the responses I received from those I reached out to on LinkedIn. The massive pool of skilled, professional, and overall wonderful group of people congregate within some of those HR and recruitment groups.
For that, I say “thank you, thank you” … sometimes people are so giving that one thank you isn’t enough! =]
For the record: 80%-90% who responded believe LinkedIn will not replace the resume at this moment, nor with its current limitations. I’m not surprised. After all, LinkedIn hasn’t filled all the gaps and benefits of the resume — however I feel they’re working on it. =]
In some ways, LinkedIn provides the details resumes do not … or maybe, should. For example, recommendations. Who doesn’t love reviewing credentials, online blog involvement, Twittering, and all those other applications available via LinkedIn, in tandem with active words of praise from third parties?
Google beware? Instead of the once common saying, did you “google” that candidate, we might hear LinkedIn’s name used as a verb.
No doubt, LinkedIn is a great resource that — for the moment — complements a resume.
So, back to the question posted to recruiters and human resources managers. What’s the view from your side of the desk? Of the responses, Prashanth Menon provided what I thought was a nice response covering some of what I had been thinking … but he put it more eloquently than I would have.
Here’s what Prashanth Menon, an Executive Search and Headhunting Specialist with Focus Direct Management Consultants had to say:
LinkedIN and similar enterprising network sites will definitely be replacing Job sites and their ineffectiveness, however it will not be surprising to see LinkedIN with further developments in the future which eradicates the need to manage ones resume elsewhere. Classic example has been the recent endeavor of LinkedIN developers to include a download-able PDF resume in the profile page.
As more and more LinkedIN users embrace the power of networking and understand the possibilities of a functional and dynamic online resume / biography the probability of LinkedIN replacing resumes will largely increase and be imminent. Most of the current users shy away from elaborating their profile which largely renders it as an ineffective replacement for a resume in the present scenario.
For career seekers tools like LinkedIN are a great way to generate headhunting calls and open doors to new opportunities which largely increases their value than a resume in some job site. They have the option of looking up current employees in an potential organization to get a feel of their cultural fitment.
As a hiring manager or search consultant LinkedIN opens door to multiple possibilities like identifying client competition, specific candidates, reference and background checks to a potentials virtual behavior and skills in discussions. Resumes largely are ineffective in delivering a wholesome package which include misrepresentation of core skills to suit the particular opportunity and cliched references which results in screening a lot of chaff.
There would be a great need for users to better represent their online profile and I would not be surprised to see a new breed of Online Profile/Resume Writers to fill that vacuum.
What do you think? Are resumes slotted for extinction?
Copyright 2008, Teena Rose, All Rights Reserved
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