The End Of The CV
The first thing we all do when starting to look for a new job is to write or update our CV. But how often do we stop to think about the effectiveness of what we are doing? CVs have been around a long time but are they really that good? Might there be a better way of communicating who we are and what we offer to prospective employers?
In recent years different attempts have been made to supersede the standard 2 page CV. These include online CVs, job seeker videos and personal websites. We have experimented with these at Career Energy. But they each contain drawbacks. Firstly, employers or recruiters expect to receive a conventional CV. If you don’t send one there is a danger you will put yourself at a disadvantage. Secondly, unlike paper CVs, videos and websites cannot be photocopied and passed around an interviewing panel. Then there is the time problem. A CV can be glanced at in a few seconds. It is much harder to do that with a website or a video. You run the risk that the person you want to see it will be too busy.
But as someone who sees dozens of CVs every day, I know for sure that they are an inadequate form of communication. It doesn’t matter how good they are in conventional CV terms, they rarely provide a flavour of the person. CVs necessarily have to be short, because people will not read a long document. But by the time you have inserted all your career history, not to mention education, interests and personal profile, there is no room left for the key messages that really portray who you are and what you have to offer.
In a digital age the old paper CV really ought to be doomed. All we need is someone to invent its replacement.
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Tags: Career Consultants, Career Energy, Career Planning, Curriculum Vitae, CV, Interview, Job Interview, job search, job seekers, Personal Branding, Resume
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