Will LinkedIn Profiles Become The New Resume?

Earlier this week I wrote a guest article for a financial services job site on how to create resumes that stands out in a tough job market.

On the back of this, I had the following question and answer exchange in the comments box with one of the readers:

Question

“Sital,
Why even worry about the more traditional versions of a resume?
Is LinkedIn not the new 'resume’?
John”

Answer

“John,

Your LinkedIn profile does not replace the CV or resume - but instead compliments it by helping you build your personal brand online.

Most recruiters I know use LinkedIn to search for candidates. Many in-house corporate recruiters doing their own direct sourcing use LinkedIn as the first place to go when they have a vacancy. And in business, something like 60% of people apparently do a Google search on the name of a contact before meeting them - a search which invariably takes them to a LinkedIn profile (if they have one).

So yes, if you’re job searching - ensure you have an upto date LinkedIn profile.

But for the moment, most hiring managers will still want to see a full version of the conventional resume. I say 'for the moment' as this may well change in the future when online platforms like LinkedIn become more sophisticated and employers decide that it's easier to use online profiles instead. But for the time being, the resume still remains your primary sales brochure to work alongside online profiles such as LinkedIn - not instead of them.

Sital”

But that’s just my take on things – what do you think? Are the days of the traditional resume numbered?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments box below.

By Sital Ruparelia, Cross posted on the 6 Figure Career Management Blog

Comments

[Recruiting Animal]

Hi Louise, long time no speak. But as soon as I saw the title to this posting my mind told me "Yes!" (really, "Yash!"). Forget all that crap about video interviews LinkedIn is IT! And I haven't even read your posting yet.

[Recruiting Animal]

Not video interviews, video resumes. And if you and your crew ever want to appear on The Recruiting Animal Show, I'd be happy to have you. I do a Recruiting Animal Panel every so often in which a few recruiters yak about a number of topics of interest to me or them. A few of you could be the panel if you are so inclined and we could talk about career or job hunting issues.

[Charles Timmins]

Effective candidates, especially at the senior-level, have moved beyond a solely resume-centric campaign. As you and your colleagues at Career Hub have mentioned numerous times, candidates must create a portfolio of marketing materials to convey the richness of the depth and breadth that their personal brand portrays.

In its purest sense, a resume holds the promise of being the end product of a carefully rendered examination of a candidate's career history. Past performance is a critical indicator of future success. However, candidates are challenged to portray their potential to provide solutions to specific challenges, as well as to catalyze growth and lead change in the future. Many digital tools exist to address this requirement.

As a complementary resource, LinkedIn is an absolute must for serious careerists "to be found" by those seeking Talent (recruiters especially). However, candidates in transition are usually the least qualified individuals to develop the imagery necessary to create the "pull" of the "pull-push" strategy.

Enterprising organizations will fashion new and exciting "digital tools" that extend the limits of technology to further showcase an individual's personal brand and elevate their candidacy.

The career game is about demonstrating the candidate's preeminence, so that others become comfortable enough to champion their candidacy. It is apparent to many that the resume tends to constrain this objective.

Hopefully, this moves the mindshare forward.

Charles J. Timmins
CPBS
Malvern, PA USA