The Dawn of Digital CVs

A well-written curriculum vitae, or CV, could be the only barrier between you and your dream job. CVs and resumes are part of professional documents that advertise your skills and experience to potential employers. However, trends in creative resume writing are so dynamic that what worked a few years ago may no longer be appealing to today's employers. Resumes have moved from introduction letters to professionally written MS Word documents and PDFs. Currently, the video CV is the new trend that may finally displace PDF resumes. Read on to update yourself on the trends in digital/video resumes.

Context

Curriculum vitae writing dates back to the 14th Century, when Leonardo da Vinci outlined his skills and qualifications on a sheet of paper that he called a resume. Leonardo da Vinci later sent the resume to the Duke of Milan in search of an opportunity to offer his skills to the duke. Historians, therefore, believe the handwritten introduction letter by Leonardo was the first CV in job-seeking history. Over time, resumes have evolved to what we currently have today.

Despite the continued improvement of the resume writing formats, it was not until the mid-20th Century that resumes commanded more than formalities. For instance, the 1930 CVs were just formalities as job seekers could gain employment based on interviews alone. Towards the middle of the 20th Century, resumes included personal details like religion, nationality, age, marital status, and physical attributes of the job seeker. The resumes from this period were no longer handwritten but typed-on typewriters.

Advancements in computer technology in the late 1970s and early 80s breathed new life into CV writing. In particular, the invention of MS Word in the 1970s was a significant milestone in professional CV writing. The MS Word program allowed individuals to type and format their CVs without the assistance of professional writers. Besides instilling professionalism into CV writing, MS Word reduced the time spent formatting the CVs as users could use CV writing templates.

Resumes in the 21sCenturyry

Towards the end of the 20th Century, CV writing underwent massive improvement in formatting and sending documents. Portable document formats (PDF) were introduced, and the internet became a significant way of sending CVs to potential employers. Most CVs were sent via email, although fax machines were still in use!

Additional progress was seen in the early years of the 21st Century as the internet gained popularity. The 2000s saw the birth of social media and CV writing sites. Job seekers no longer needed to present physical copies of their CVs to employers. New technology gave job seekers the ability to share their CVs on social networking sites like LinkedIn publicly. Job seekers could use the services of CV writing sites to improve their profile's visibility on social media sites and attract potential employers. Today's employers still use sites like Linkedin to search for ideal candidates who possess specific skills or experience.

Other Innovative Features in CV Writing

It is no doubt that the internet and advancements in information and communication technology have revolutionized resume writing. Resume writing sites improved the writing formats and details in the standard CV, while job seekers gained more visibility thanks to improved social networking algorithms and search functionality. However, some job seekers feel they are not well covered by the recent advancements and opt for other innovative ways of increasing their visibility. A great example of going above and beyond to get noticed is one person’s ingenious plan to conceal his CV in doughnut boxes and hand-deliver it to recruiters in the area.

Another great innovation in the CV writing industry is the video resume. Although video resumes on sites like YouTube have been around for several years, job seekers now have an opportunity to create visual CVs and share them on social media sites like TikTok. In a 30-second video, you can showcase your presentation skills and outline qualifications for specific tasks. The video CV can help reinforce the written resume and easily be included as a link to the written CV. The visual CV provides an advantage to human resource managers, who can draw information that written CVs would not.

Despite the advantages of digital CVs, sometimes they may work against the job seeker or the employer.

Challenges of Video Resume for Jobseekers

Video CVs can highlight a job seeker's personality and verbal communication skills. However, the language and tone of the video may negatively affect your job search. Human resource managers still demand professionalism from your application. If you use informal phrases, you may lose points gained from your written CV. Always use formal language as you address your potential employer.

Your dressing and posture may also negatively affect your chances of receiving positive communication from your prospective employer. It is always good to avoid informal presentations when recording a video CV. Dress professionally and avoid distractions like clutter or background noise.

The length of your video CV may also discourage the prospective employer. It should not be too long or too short. A one-minute video is enough to convince the employer that you are competent to handle specific tasks. Remember, not all HR managers will open a link to your video CV. In fact, according to Vault Inc., only 17% of HR professionals proceed to view visual CVs, underlining the importance of written CVs.

Challenges to Employers

Video CVs may expose HR managers to subtle discrimination. The video presentation provides visual details excluded in a traditional CV, such as perceived race, gender, or age. Requiring video CVs limits the applicant pool to individuals with access to the technology. As an employer, it is good to review the risks and company policies before requiring video CVs.

Bottom Line

Resumes have consistently evolved from just handwritten pieces to the professional MS Word and PDF we have today. The advancement of the internet and social media sites has also created video CVs. However, the written CVs may not be obsolete anytime soon, as the video resume is just a reinforcement of the written document.