What’s the first thing job seekers do when they apply for a job? They send a resume (probably as a Word doc – yuck!). This practice is, of course, perpetuated by employers who keep asking for resumes. For a long time now, this magical first step of the employer/candidate dance is to transfer this stale, boring document called a resume from one party to the other.
Why?
My guess is simply that this is just “how it’s done” and employers want to see (rightly so) how experienced and/or qualified the candidate is before investing any more time.
Resumes have outlived their usefulness. They are boring, static documents that don’t really tell anyone much about a person. Luckily, there is a tool that is much more suited for job-seeking and hiring. That tool is LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a fantastic networking tool and profile builder that far surpasses the old-fashioned resume. Here is why.
1. A LinkedIn profile is a “living” document. I am constantly hearing friends say things like “I need to update my resume”. If you maintain your LinkedIn profile and actively use it, you won’t have to worry about updating a resume. It contains your current activity, accomplishments, and work and has dynamic connections into other applications. Besides, you can always export your resume from LinkedIn if you really need to.
2. LinkedIn gives employers insight into the personality of the candidate. Part of hiring is making sure that a candidate will fit well into the company culture. A resume will not tell you much about someone’s personality but a LinkedIn profile will show you what types of things a person is posting and how that person communicates.
3. Recommendations are stronger and more credible on LinkedIn. On a resume, a reference or recommendation is just a bunch of words on a page. However, on LinkedIn a recommendation can be traced back to a real person with a real profile. You can see exactly who is making the recommendation and what that person’s background is.
4. LinkedIn shows off your communication skills. You can pull your blog and presentations into your LinkedIn profile which allows employers to see real, tangible examples of your writing and communication skills.
5. LinkedIn helps you make connections. Finding a job is all about networking. LinkedIn allows job-seekers to connect with people who can make introductions for them or allow them to reach the right people. It’s an incredible network of professionals who can offer advice and assistance to job-seekers.
As an employer, try asking for someone’s LinkedIn profile from now on instead of a resume. It will tell you a lot more about the candidate and will be a much more useful evaluation tool than a resume.
Job-seekers: work on creating a powerful LinkedIn profile. Recommend others in order to receive recommendations in return. Add applications that showcase your writing and presentations. Use a high-quality professional photo. Actively seek connections with others. These things will enhance your image as a candiate and help you stand out.
Let’s evolve beyond the resume and use LinkedIn instead.
