Resumes are so last century. Why do companies even want to see them anymore?
People Tend to Exaggerate
From a head football coach at Notre Dame to a Yahoo CEO, some of the most famous people in the world have flat out lied or, at least, exaggerated o their resumes. When you make a list of your accomplishments, it is easy to fib. Didn't quite finish that degree? Nobody has to know.
Many Companies Do Not Bother to Verify
Of course, it doesn't help that many people who hire employees don't bother to check out all the facts before making a decision. Maybe they are too lazy, or maybe they are too trusting. Either way, what is the point in asking for them if you don't plan to use them properly?
They Do Not Tell Much About Your Ability
Sure, you can list all of your skills on your resume, but what does that really mean? So, you are good at Microsoft Office. So is everyone else who applies for the same job, or so they claim. Unless the person hiring you sees you in action, a list of skills on paper is meaningless.
They Do Not Tell Much About the Type of Worker You Are
And even if your list of skills does mean something to your future boss, they don't say anything about who you are as an employee. Sure, you made a huge sale at your last job, but only after your boss threatened to fire you for goofing off too much. Yeah, you always volunteered to stay late, but no one knew you spent that extra hour playing solitaire on your computer.
Advances in Technology
With so many advances in technology these days, why does a company want you to print out a boring piece of paper give it to them. Why not have you record a video resume and attach to an email? There should be other ways for applicants to show their skills.
They Do Not Help You Stand Out
Even when using slightly different colored paper or a slightly thicker sheet, your resume probably won't stand out from the others. At the end of the day, a stack of resumes is just a stack of papers someone has to read through and try to find his or her dream candidate based on a list of words plucked from a thesaurus.
You Can Put It Online
There are so many websites out there these days that allow you to upload your resume. Shouldn't a hiring manager just ask you to link him or her to your Monster or LinkedIn profiles?
Social Media Fills the Void
Then there is social media such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Unless you use your Twitter account to harass Justin Bieber or your Facebook profile to post drunken pictures from your Friday night out on the town, these can be effective tools in showing a potential employer just what you are all about.
There Is No Room for Creativity
Most people want someone who is creative and thinks outside the box, and what better way to make a first impression than by doing something beyond a classic resume, such as a video resume or blog? You can show off your photography skills, how organized you are, your ability to adapt to new technology, and so much more by just coming up with a creative way to apply for a job.
You Get Jobs Differently Now
Long gone are the days when you mailed you resume to a company and waited a few weeks for someone to call you for an interview. These days, you fill out online applications, you Skype, you email, and you even work from home. If the process of getting a job changed with the 21st century, shouldn't the method used to present yourself to your future employer change, too?
