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The Death of The Resume

creative job searchToday I stumbled upon an article in the Wall Street Journal that highlighted how many companies are now asking candidates for digital alternatives to paper resumes, such as LinkedIn profiles and Twitter accounts. Its a sign of the times that traditional job search is dead, and today’s candidates must adapt in order to stay competitive in an already competitive job market.

Luckily, the internet has provided us with a plethora of tools to accommodate for these changes. Savvy job seekers have already adopted creative job search strategies that leverage diverse online media to land interviews with major corporations.

If you are just getting started in your job search, here are a few tactics you can use to stand out in the crowd with digital media.

Get Active On LinkedIn

LinkedIn is, and will continue to be, the most important online tool for job seekers and networkers alike. A robust profile filled with your personal experiences, future goals, and personality can give potential employers a much better look into your qualifications as a worker. It also connects you to real people in the companies you’d like to work for, which is much more productive than sending resumes into automated online applications (AKA the black hole.)

Dig Deeper: 10 Tips To Crush It On LinkedIn

Build A Personal Website

Building a personal website is no longer a perk exclusive to super nerds. User friendly platforms like WordPress and Wix have made it incredibly easy for the average person to create a beautiful and free website. Your website should be your digital hub, including all of your social profiles (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) as well as samples of your work, writing skills, and pictures. When employers can see your personality, it really humanizes the job application process and makes you more appealing. Remember that companies hire people, not positions.

Dig Deeper: Two Free DIY Website Builders

Prove Your Expertise

Simply building out your online presence won’t guarantee you land an interview at your dream company. Instead, it is a doorway towards establishing your credibility and expertise. Start reading up on important topics in your industry so that you can form your own opinions. Once  you are comfortable speaking about a particular topic, begin blogging and engaging others on social media sites like Twitter and LinkedIn. This proactive approach will catapult you above and beyond other candidates, regardless of your age or experience.

Dig Deeper: Think You’re An Expert? Prove It!

I hope these tips prove helpful to you in your current and future job search. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to get back to you.

Have you gotten a job using these (or any other) digital tips? Let’s hear about them in the comments.

  • http://www.endlessrise.com/ Resell SEO

    There are people who are expecting this to happen. They even thought that it would be a Facebook business page that employers would be looking at, or maybe the new Google+ pages. LinkedIn has been the most well-known hub for professionals, and it’s definitely a big help if you want to reach out to the experts of your field.

    -> Floyd Andrews

  • Stephen Murphy

    Hi Floyd - 

    That’s a great call. As these platforms continue to evolve, who knows what implications they will have on our professional lives. I think having a centralized hub for all your social platforms and accomplishments is a great way to organize the data into an easy to digest piece.

    Thanks for the feedback!

  • Reilly530

    If it wasn’t for LinkedIn I would have never obtained my current position

  • kenn pappas

    It’s a shame that someone would suggest to job seekers that resumes are not the most prominent tool for finding a job, since it’s difficult enough for people to find jobs as it is. People that proselytize without statistical evidence only because they want something to be true are dangerous. All one needs to do is to view Indeed.com, CareerBuilders, USAJobs, Ladders, and other prominent search engines to see that all reputable employers require a resume and cover letter. Twitter is great if you want to be a cart driver or clerk, but not for a professional position. Don’t believe this nonsense that the resume is dead or you’ll soon find yourself sinking in a quagmire of gloom and doom.

    • Stephen Murphy

      Hi Ken, the resume is still necessary in an interview process – I agree with you there. But as a job search tool? Not so much. The real “shame” here is that too many conservative job seekers fail to adapt to changing trends to take advantage of the job market. There are over 3 million unfilled jobs right now because of the gap in traditional job search and modern recruitment. There are millions of job seekers dumping resumes into HR inboxes every day without ever hearing a word back. Its the people who believe in this digital “nonsense” that are actually getting the attention of decision makers and landing jobs.