If you are considering dusting off an old resume for your next job, think again. According to research, 75% of hiring managers feel that the traditional resume style isn't enough to evaluate a candidate for a job.
What you need is a new approach.
In this guide, we will explain how the resume has evolved. Find out what employers expect in a modern resume and how you can use a few creative ideas to get ahead.
It might surprise you to know that resume origins go back centuries. The resume, or curriculum vitae (a Latin phrase meaning course of life), dates back to Da Vinci and the 15th Century.
It makes sense that Da Vinci's impressive list of unrivalled accomplishments and capabilities would need an invention of their own.
This early example of a CV was more of a letter of introduction. After the Industrial Revolution, when people were more likely to change employers, a CV became more of an employment record.
Similarly, the advent of universal education meant that qualifications began appearing on these pieces of paper.
Since then, the curriculum vitae (CV) evolved, and it's now more commonly referred to in Canada as a resume.
However, it's worth noting that in parts of Europe, like the UK, you'll still see a lengthier version of a resume go by the term CV.
Until recently, it was common for a job seeker to print a paper copy of a resume and hand it to a recruiter. But the emergence of the internet and the digital revolution has changed that.
Now, resumes are online files exchanged via email or uploaded to an online job application form. It's marked a turning point in jobs and made it faster and more efficient for people to share their talents with the rest of the world.
But it's not only emails that have become a central feature of this new era. Online job platforms have emerged as the norm, too.
It's a hub where employers, recruitment companies and candidates can connect. It's made it convenient for people to browse jobs in their field and send their resumes at the click of a button.
These platforms have also paved the way for more standardized resume formats. Some offer form fields for candidates to complete instead of uploading a separate resume file.
That's helped employers, too. It means they can easily compare and contrast job seekers when every resume is presented in a standardized fashion.
Another digital feature that's begun to appear on resumes is a link.
Candidates can now use their resume to link to more information to help sell their skills. That could be a video, online portfolio or a website.
Resumes have become less about recording employment history and more about personal branding. And there is no better illustration of how this works than examining how job seekers use social media.
Social media started life as a way to connect with old friends. Now, it's a way to present an image of yourself to the world and connect with people you don't know.
Modern job seekers understand the potential of this. That's why a savvy candidate will update their social media profiles before applying for a job and add it to their resume.
Even savvier ones will use social media to connect and network with potential employers and add their resumes to their profiles.
LinkedIn is the most popular platform in this respect. It's a chance to do some job-related networking, and you could find yourself headhunted if you have an impressive LinkedIn profile.
While LinkedIn may be the obvious profile to add to your CV, don't ignore others as you could make use of them.
For example, if you are a photographer, you might have an attractive Instagram feed to add to your resume. A journalist, in contrast, might include their Twitter (now X) handle.
A word of warning, though.
Only add your accounts if they are professional and job-related. Personal ones are, at best, irrelevant. At worst, they could do reputational damage if a recruiter reads back to what you wrote as a teenager.
Links to websites and social media profiles are just some of the things you'll see on a modern resume. The structure of the content has changed, too.
Nowadays, many people shun the traditional style of a chronological history of employment and qualifications structure. Instead, they opt for something called a skills-based resume.
A skills-based resume won't have a chronological order. Instead, it will highlight the core skills of that individual.
Within those headlines will be evidence of how that person developed those skills. And it will outline when they've demonstrated those qualities in a job or educational setting.
Skills-based resumes are becoming more favoured these days. Employers have shifted away from job titles, and careers are no longer linear.
Instead, many recruiters realize that the best members of their team have specific qualities - or skills - rather than a prestigious job title or degree qualification.
It's a helpful format for candidates, too. It allows them to align and showcase their strengths, even if they lack the relevant experience.
The takeaway from this is that employers' values are changing.
High on their list are qualities like adaptability, creativity and a passion for learning. Formal certificates, exam results or employer names are further down their list of priorities.
Formatting resumes is far easier than in the past. Some candidates are taking advantage of that by creating a more attractive and visual layout for their resume.
It helps a resume stand out from the competition. Sometimes, that even includes visuals or graphics.
The most popular option is to add a profile picture. It puts a face to a name, which can help with recruitment. However, not all employers allow this; some prefer resumes without images to avoid discrimination.
Graphics and other non-photo visuals are trending in certain jobs like graphics design. It's the perfect opportunity to show your skills when applying for a career in that field.
The written form isn't the only way to present a modern resume. Some candidates are opting for more creative presentational formats. That includes video and website portfolios.
Using these tools, a job seeker can add personality to their resume. It's also a chance to explain their passion for the role - something that's often hard to do in a limited word count.
Digital portfolios allow candidates to share a wide variety of images or videos that might help secure that dream job. For example, a web designer would use that space to share screenshots of past website projects.
More people are embracing remote work and the gig economy. It offers a more flexible freelance route for those who want to balance other life commitments. And it's also shaped the way candidates present resumes.
Remote and gig working demands a different resume profile. These roles often value skills over qualifications.
They will need to showcase qualities such as self-management and adaptability. Plus, some will likely demand specific knowledge of remote technology, like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
More flexible working also means short-term positions.
In these roles, recruiters want to see examples of professionals who can hit the ground running rather than entry-level positions for those needing on-the-job training.
These job types are also an opportunity to showcase non-traditional qualifications. That might include online certifications in place of traditional degrees, for example.
These certifications are an excellent way of showing a recruiter that you have a commitment to lifelong learning - another highly valued quality in the modern job market.
Finally, it's essential to understand that when putting together a resume for a job nowadays, it's likely to undergo some automated scan.
These scans use advanced AI technology to help sift through hundreds of resumes, rather than a recruiter reading every one manually.
What's vital to understand about this process is that this technology tends to scan for specific keywords. For example, suppose you are applying for an SEO job for an online blog.
A resume scanner may check for the keyword WordPress and discard any resumes that don't include that keyword.
You must understand what keywords to include in your resume when applying for a job and brainstorm related words (like Wix or Content Management System).
You must also double-check your keywords for accuracy so a machine doesn't miss them.
Working life has moved on, and so should your resume. If you are still using a traditional resume, then it's time for an upgrade. Consider building a more creative and individual profile that emphasizes your strengths.
Remember to tailor your resume to your industry and the job role. And don't be afraid to try a different approach.
You're in the right place if you need more help creating a resume for your dream job. Book a free consultation with Career HD to learn how our resume-writing services can help you advance in the modern job market.
