Resumes have had a long run since Leonardo de Vinci first used one to get hired. But what does the future hold for the resume? And how can you take advantage of today’s trends to have a resume ready for tomorrow?
The Resume’s Fate
The resume’s fate has always been decided by the advent of new technologies. Typewriters and printers made distribution of resumes easier. Fax machines and email allowed for a new, faster way to send resumes. And now with the internet, the resume has yet another form of technology and distribution deciding its fate.
Resumes online
If you are looking for employment, putting your resume on the internet is a must. Job boards, resume databases, and social media profiles are a powerful way to display your skills and resume without ever having to apply. And as more job and social sites proliferate that allow people to showcase skills, uploading your resume will become an essential tool for every job seeker.
Databases & Keywords
Today there are many databases people use to upload their resume and showcase their skills. Monster, CareerBuilder and LinkedIn are a few of the more popular databases. But did you know that keywords on your resume can make or break whether it is seen by the right people? When recruiters and employers search databases for resumes, they use keywords. And if you use the right keywords, your resume has a much better chance of being found. Keep words in your resume relevant, and be sure to list all software and technical skills in the field you work.
Linkedin & Professional Social Media
Linkedin is the professional social media site. If you are not on LinkedIn you need to be! It is a great way of displaying your resume and skills online while making professional connections in your field. In time more sites like Linkedin are likely to arise and professionals will have new online tools to display their resume. Get on these sites now to increase your exposure.
Beware of your online presence
Professional social media sites are great for jobseekers, but did you know that personal social media sites can have just as much of an effect on your efforts to land a career opportunity? Social media sites have become impromptu quasi resumes, giving employers a new way to judge character based off of posts and comments. Leave a mean comment or an offensive post on your Facebook wall or a Twitter feed? It could cost you a job opportunity. So, beware of your online presence.
Personal Websites & Online Portfolios
Some professionals, such as architects or graphic artists, have had personal websites or online portfolios for years. Employers often ask to see their portfolios and a personal website is an easy way to display previous work. The trend now is for many other types of professionals to develop a personal site. Software engineers, chefs, even an enterprising, high school babysitter have personal websites with resumes. Want to show off to a potential employer? Consider making an online portfolio or personal website. The bonus is if your potential employer Googles your name, your website should come up giving you more control of your online presence.
So where is the resume going from here?
Technology has always been the driver in the evolution of the resume. Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter are gaining traction as a way for professionals to increase their exposure and chances of landing that dream job. Video resumes are becoming more common where a candidate makes an introduction via a pre-recorded video message. Mass resume distribution services that promise to get your resume to hundreds of hiring managers have also gained in popularity. And with the days of typing out a resume and faxing it behind us, the job seeker of today needs to stay cutting edge and be sure their online presence is where it needs to be. Because ultimately, your resume may simply be your employer Googling your name, and getting all the information they need that way.