CV Builders Evolution: From Builded in Word to LinkedIn

To understand this a little better why don’t we look at the history of resumes and how they have evolved. The first written curriculum vitae is said to have been written by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1482. It wasn’t till the 1950s that CVs were accepted by employers to help position you for a job role. Then as technology developed so did the change in resumes. In the 1970s CVs were being typed and looked more professional and in 1983 Microsoft word launched.

This allowed individuals to create their own resumes and build on a method that some still use today known as a traditional CV. However, in the 80s it seemed the curriculum vitae had officially died out. It wasn’t until the internet in the 90s that the resume seemed to be the method to help job hunters get noticed again. In 1994, Monster started and Career builder was created, this helped with resumes being sent out via email. As the web developed in 2003 LinkedIn emerged and new advances like YouTube CVs.

So job candidates could have more of an online presence and employers could notice them even before a CV had landed and be headhunted. LinkedIn started in 2003 and acts as a portal that reads like an online curriculum vitae. LinkedIn profiles include a profile photo, current job title, a summary, work experience, etc. What makes this different from a traditional CV is that your colleagues can recommend you and also endorse any specialist skills you may have. Like teamwork, project management, etc. This type of platform allows anyone to see your LinkedIn profile and if connected to any mutual connections and you are actively seeking a job you can get headhunted on LinkedIn.

Visual/Digital resumes are something that is being used more and more to help attract the right opportunities. A visual CV may include a CV on platforms such as Twitter or Facebook or an infographic curriculum vitae. This form of CV may be especially helpful for those who belong to creative fields who need to set themselves apart from the crowd. A traditional CV can be presented as a Word document or a PDF.

Sections include Personal details, which are your Name, address, email, etc. A personal/ career profile is a summary of who are you what you are looking for and what makes you a unique candidate. Achievements or Key skills section looks at key professional or personal achievements you have made that you want to display. A key skills section looks at particular key skills needed that help to perform a role like Team management, etc. Work experience details the different places you have worked including paid or unpaid work.

There are various formats of a CV these formats include performance, functional, targeted, specialized, etc. There is no wrong or right format for a traditional resume but each one has a slightly different layout. A performance-based CVs focuses more on your individual performance in a job role and shows your major achievements. This can be helpful for people who want management roles or need to demonstrate leadership. Whilst a functional CV is reflecting more on the skills required to do a particular job role. This is great for specialized job roles in fields like science or IT etc.

Pros and Cons of CVs Created Online

One of the pros of having an online CV is that it can represent more of your own individual personality This is especially important in creative roles like art director, graphic designer, brand specialist, etc. You can be headhunted through the power of social media. You already have an online presence and thus are keeping up with current trends in today’s job market.

Recruiters who are sent a traditional CV will check your online presence too. So it’s important to have a LinkedIn or visual online CV. Cons of an online curriculum vitae can only be seen digitally. Also, visual and video CVs may not work for all professions. The digital curriculum vitae could reflect too much of your personality, which may put some employers off calling you for an interview.

Pros of a traditional CV are that it looks professional and you can privately share your CV with specific recruiters, etc. As it’s not online, it can be seen on paper.

Cons of a traditional CV It’s just one format and although can be shared via email, etc. it isn’t unique. Everyone may not have access to your traditional CV but if you are on LinkedIn, etc. they can still read a little bit about you.

So what CV shines brighter, an online CV or a traditional one?

Well, this is partly down to how much effort and creativity is put into the method you choose. While job hunting, it’s always better to have both types of CV. Because this increases your chance of being noticed by a potential recruiter or employer. And although technology is advancing, some recruiters still prefer you emailing them a copy of your personal CV. You can look for their email address by using the email finder tool.

It shows you have still taken the time to market yourself traditionally whilst maintaining a professional online platform. Just remember whichever format you follow to keep it professional so that you can be called for an interview and impress people with your skills and knowledge. New formats of CVs, like video CVs, are great but all employers and recruiters are really looking for is quality candidates. So if you can display this in your curriculum vitae, this will pave the way for success in your job hunt.

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