5 Reasons Why Resumes and Cover Letters No Longer Do the Trick
More and more often, job seekers who simply rely on a resume and / or cover letter (even a LinkedIn profile isn’t as helpful as it once was) are frequently outflanked by those who carry a robust online presence.
While they used to be sufficient, there are now inherent problems with relying on written word as your main or only method of advertising. Our recruiters see the following as the 5 most prevalent reasons:
1. They’re outdated. Unfortunately, resumes and cover letters are the equivalent of print advertising. We’re a digitally dominated society. Words without enticing, high-def images fail to play to today’s visually oriented individuals and provide no real experience for the end user.
2. There is virtually no way to track their efficiency. Resumes and cover letters leave job seekers in the dark. Without appearing invasive or desperate, it is virtually impossible to know if an employer opened their resume, how much time they spent looking at it and what parts of the document they focused most on.
3. Resumes focus too heavily on an individual’s past and don’t put enough emphasis on current employment desires or future potential. Younger job seekers have trouble standing out because many lack tangible, relevant experience. For the same reason, those attempting to switch careers or even industries suffer. This is mainly due to the fact that when employers perform an initial resume scan, they find little to no relevant information and discard the application.
4. They fail to humanize the candidate. There’s nothing relatable about a resume or cover letter. It talks about what you’ve done, not who you are as a person. Considering people are more likely to interview, hire and be persuaded by individuals similar to them, as similarities often insinuate cultural fit (a significant hiring factor).
5. Resumes and cover letters provide little to no brand differentiation. Companies receive them by the hundreds (if not more) and most resumes say the same thing. For instance, all job seekers claim they are hard working, competent, detail oriented, knowledgeable and efficient. Though, few prove these attributes are present.
