Is it the end for the CV?

Do I still need a CV?

With everything being on-line nowadays and the force and reach of social and professional networks you would be forgiven for thinking that the days of the humble CV are numbered.

We have been asking candidates for CV’s since I was in short trousers and everybody seems to have one, whether well written or not. Look at the major job sites and you will see that they sell themselves on the basis of the number of CVs they have on their system.However, we have in the last few years been getting more applications from candidates that refer us to their LinkedIn page or personal website and do not attach a CV.

Is it the end for the CV?

Articles I have seen recently suggest that yes, it is the end since all your details are on LinkedIn (true if you have completed a full profile, but it is not an application for a job, rather business networking) or on your social media (partly true, plus pictures of your cat), or you can add your details to the online application form (true, but not all companies use this method).

Obviously, many large organisations have embraced automated online job application systems that utilise powerful software to filter out those that match their criteria. However, I have not come across many SME’s that do, nor many recruitment firms that are undertaking the first round and shortlisting for the client. In these cases, a CV is a must.

Applying for roles

You could be asked to apply online via an AI powered, application system that asks specific questions about you, your work history and your experience in key, job related areas. This will be looking for key words and phrases, relevant to the role. Some applications also ask you to upload examples of your work and/or your CV. What information though is filtered down to the hiring manager if they do not have a CV to look at?

So, what is a CV for?

The purpose of a CV is to record your personal details and your career history giving a prospective employer a thumb-nail sketch of your ability and experience in order that they can decide whether to invite you to an initial interview. It is there to sell you and is a marketing tool; its only purpose is to get you an interview.

Most organisations embrace some form of technology in their hiring process, with some being fully automated but there is still a place for the humble, analogue powered CV.

Flexibility

There does seem a disconnect between the technology savvy generation, who want fast feedback and quick decisions, preferably on-line, and the ‘seasoned’ recruiting manager who still likes a CV and takes his time with the recruitment process.

Perhaps as AI takes over the recruiting process and application systems get more widespread the need for a CV will start to disappear. But for now, you still need one!

A CV can be stored (for future reference) and shared, printed off and written on, scanned into a database, searched on a database and used to discover hidden talent. Companies can also use it as a skill base for hiring on future projects.

So, don’t give up on it yet! Keep it up to date and make sure that you ‘tweak’ it for each job you apply for, matching your skills and experience to the role and putting these on your CV. You can even use it as a reference document for that online application…

The CV is dead; long live the CV!