Can the CV/Resume really die?

Peter asks: There is a lot of speculation about the end of the resume, being replaced by social profiles (LinkedIn, VisualCV, etc.), video resumes and even audio resumes. Really, can any of these things replace it? If so, why? If not, why not?

In answer:
Did Amazon kill the book market? No, there are more books sold now than ever..... OK, so did the eBook kill the physical book? Ah No, see the Amazon tale!

Will the visual/video CV/Resume kill the paper one? Thought1 - do we all look like Jennifer Lopez or Brad Pitt? Hence the idea that a video will totally replace a CV/Resume is ridiculous - it already has in the fields where it matters, like visual arts and TV presenters where its been called a show real since the 1920's.

So will the online information source kill the paper CV/Resume? No - that's like replacing the gun with a tank: more effective in many but not all situations. And we send more letters and consume more paper now than we ever did before we invented computers

You are assuming in your question Peter that the CV/Resume is a presentation of all the facts. No, its a factual sales presentation - no more, no less. Would you like it known in your job application that you weren't great at catching a ball in pre-school: thought not....!

The summary presentation of someone and the skills needing in doing that will continue - and one format will never suit everyone or every skill: part of the selection process starts with that choice of format. What the online world will give is access to more applicants (which it has already done), and the removal of total lie's from the personal presentation, facilitated through easier checking. Candidates, beware!

CV/Resumes - new technology v old tricks

If you read the latest marketing stuff on CV's and Resumes, particularly from those selling VideoCV's or standard eFormat Resumes, then you have to have one of these new formats as opposed to an old piece of paper.

The think goes that.....
A - you stand out from the crowd
B - Your skills can be presented in a way which makes you stand out OR that means all your skills are fairly assessed
C - That Recruiters and HR people get board looking at piles of CV's and Resumes, so could miss your skills

So, these new formats solve all of your problems in one foul swoop - hey hey, job success.

Well, here's a thought......
A - not every one is great at video, and most have never had a presenting lesson on their life
B - most of the formats offered require that you and the Recruiter/HR team have an account on that platform. Your's as a candidate is often free, while ours is often paid before viewing. So, how am I going to see your wondrous CV/Resume UNLESS I am registered? And with so many competing platforms, how am I going to pay all those registration fee's?
C - Every recruiter I know has a CRM system. This catalogues you, and has a facility to scan in your CV/Resume. This CRM system then, when I type in the core skills of a new job I am placing, scans all the people in our dBase - yes, even the scanned CV/Resume - and pulls up those that meet the basic criteria. My large pile of applicants is hence down to a reasonable munchable pile - a bit of scanning and I am down to say 10 great candidates in less than an hour.

Unless you are aiming for a position in the arts, or TV News, or something similar - then Video CV's/Resumes don't make sence - why is the obvious question.

Secondly, the standard formats sell something that my technology over comes - honest, none of ups could cope with even the paperwork for 1000 candiadtes in out offices.

And thirdly - its still the words and your skills which will get you past the initial paper sift: nothing more, nothing less. If you don't have the basic skills, then you won't get the job. Read the advert or the companies annual report to know what those are.

Good luck - and don't fall for those new formats, without going back to the basics