Long Live…The Resume?

March 26, 2013

 

RIP, resumes? Many HR experts are saying their days as a relevant hiring tool are done, but is there life beyond the standard word document grave? These job application tips will help you set both your resume and your candidacy apart.

As with most work processes these days, hiring is rapidly evolving, and in this brave new innovative world some leaders in the recruiting industry are questioning whether the resume, a staple in the hiring process, is actually an outdated and unnecessary tool. Some have even gone so far as to argue that, with ability to use online profiles such as LinkedIn profiles, resumes may no longer be necessary. I have to admit I totally disagree. Dare I say it, I don’t think the resume is even enough.

An Argument for the Resume+

While a bio is great to have, and your LinkedIn profile is a solid step forward in letting me know about your experience, as a recruiter I need to know more. I need to know your work history, what companies you have worked for, your tenure at each company – overall I want to see your story and understand how you have progressed (or stayed stagnant) throughout your career. In addition, I want to know your credentials, your numbers, and your successes — and the resume is where this information lives. Of course, I already mentioned I believe a resume alone is no longer enough. With it, you may have told me what you can do and what you have done. But now I need you to show me.

Show, Don’t Tell: 4 Examples of How You Can Showcase Actual Examples of Your Skills & Experience

Candidates are responding to this call to action by showcasing the skills and accomplishments listed on their resume with actual examples of their work. Here are four examples I have seen recently:

  1. Software engineers showcasing development work on GitHub or their own personal websites.
  2. Marketing professionals with a portfolio of their work via a website, a PDF file with collateral, or links directly to the social accounts they have development/maintained/built.
  3. Sales professionals are showcasing their skills through their numbers, setting up anything from a simple chart to a timeline listing their sales history through their numbers.
  4. Operations folks are showcasing their skills with dashboards, models, or flow charts of their work.

So, the moral of this story? I love that candidates can provide real examples of their work, and showcasing your work can in fact get you in the door or move you to the head of the pack. But what it can’t do is take away from the need for you to provide a resume stating your credentials and accomplishments. Find creative ways to link these two experiences and you will have cracked the code for submitting an exceptional resume+.

How are you incorporating examples of your skills and experience into your job applications?

Director of Talent

<strong>Carlie Smith</strong> was the Senior Talent Manager, Sales & Marketing at OpenView. She worked directly with hiring managers and key stakeholders within OpenView and its portfolio to lead vital searches and provided process guidance on recruitment strategy, including talent identification, strategic sourcing, relationship building, and competitive intelligence. Currently, Carlie is the Director of <a href="https://www.circle.com/en">Circle</a>.