Here’s my take…….

Regardless of experience, industry or educational background the process of identifying and applying for jobs has seen immense change over the last 5 years.

As new technologies emerge, digital recruitment evolves. New trends, methods and mobile applications will be adopted including video CV’s and on-line employee referral programmes.

However………………

I cannot see that the CV has ‘had its day’ yet. Today’s jobseeker needs to arm themselves with a complete job hunting toolkit which includes projecting a ‘consistent’ professional brand using social media, networking etc…. But their primary door opener is still the good old fashioned CV.

Jobseekers are slowly understanding that CV’s should not be static. CV’s should be ‘tweaked’ for each and every application demonstrating in a concise manner how their skills, experience and achievements relate specifically to both the role and organisation that they are applying to.

In the interest of transparency CV’s should contain links to social media profiles – this also provides an opportunity for potential employers to read any work related recommendations that will help support any job application.

The sad fact is that where Applicant Tracking Systems are concerned it has become vital that jobseekers also mirror the language used in the job description to help build into their CV the keywords that could potentially determine whether they secure an interview or not.

CV’s are what they are – a document that factually describes ‘the course of an individuals professional life’. CV’s can help minimise any kind of discrimination by being objective and not subjective.

CV’s provide a reader with specific facts that relate to a role and organisation; interviews provide the opportunity for truly ‘getting to know’ candidates in more detail.

Social media profiles currently do a great job of enabling employers and recruiters to identify and initially engage with potential candidates but employers typically tend not to take the relationship any further until they have seen the candidates CV! As ‘key words’ remain the king of the application process, CV’s still currently provide the most fluid format that can be easily amended to help ensure candidates successfully navigate the application process and secure an interview.

As social media privacy laws tighten and people become more comfortable making ‘in depth’ personal information public, the job application process will certainly change. Generation Y is already comfortable at baring their souls on social media, however, as video CV’s and social media profiles provide a glimpse into who we are and what we look like we must all be mindful of their subjective nature.