How Relevant Are Resumes in the 21st Century Job Search

How Relevant Are Resumes in the 21st Century Job Search Photo Credit â€" resume.naukri.comIn an era of LinkedIn and Facebook, who really needs a resume anymore? In our digital world, it may seem like a resume is an unnecessary relic of the past, like typewriters and rotary phones.The job search game has been forever changed by our virtual world. Social media sites have replaced some of the traditional roles that resumes once filled. With the click of a button, you can apply for a job.But can the quintessential job search tool â€" the resume- be replaced?evalLet’s face it, resume aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact, people are getting more creative at crafting resumes beyond the traditional, basic piece of paper to help them land the perfect job.Here are four pieces of advice on how to take advantage of modern technology when applying for a job and why resumes are still important:1. Do your homework on the companySome job seekers at interviews are quick to talk about themselves and what they bring to the table without really knowin g anything about the company or asking engaging questions.“Many candidates aren’t well-versed in what the company does, what their product line is or what the position will entailâ€"all information that can be found out through a basic Google search,” says Rasheen Carbin, co-founder of the job-matching app nspHire. “When I see this in an interview, I think that the candidate doesn’t really want the job.”With all the information available on the internet, there’s no excuse not to be prepared. In addition, job candidates definitely need to tailor their resumes and cover letters to the specific job and company being sought.You want to put your best foot forward, especially when a resume is the first thing some employers see about you. A great resume and first-round telephone interview are likely the main things that determine whether you’ll land an in-person interview.2. Update your LinkedIn profileYou’d be amazed at how many incomplete profiles you come across on Lin kedIn, which is basically an online social media resume for professionals. If you’re lazy and don’t update it, it could turn off potential employers.evalLinkedIn encourages its users to complete and update as many sections of their profiles as possible because completed profiles are 40 times more likely to receive offers through LinkedIn.However, according to LinkedIn Insights, only about 50 percent of people have a fully completed profile.Displaying a partial LinkedIn profile would be like emailing half of a resume to a potential employer, or only showing a small glimpse of your skillset. You wouldn’t do that.3. Apply for a job on Facebook and TwitterAfter doing some successful testing, Facebook in February rolled out the opportunity for businesses to post job openings on their pages, as well as a new jobs bookmark. Within Facebook and FB Messenger, businesses can track applications and communicate directly with applicants.evalProviding a link to your resume is a great chance to showcase your work history or at least refer to when filling out an online application. Twitter is another social media platform that employers use to solicit job seekers.“Job seekers need to realize that employers will begin contacting them via social media, which means they need to be responsive,” Rasheen Carbin says. “And their social media presence need to be presentable.”This means keeping social media profiles professional and sans the party pics, swear words, and risque selfies. You can always keep your Facebook and Instagram private, so job hunters can’t see exactly what you are up to.4. Mobile recruitingEvery year, mobile technology becomes more crucial. Employers know that if they want to reach millennials, they need real time recruiting apps.Job boards such as CareerBuilder and Monster are investing more resources in their apps.The ability to respond quickly and discreetly is appealing, and there’s no pounding the pavement. The app Pocket Resume allows you to craft a professionally formatted resume from your smartphone.You don’t have to worry about design or layout, the app does it for you. Once again, having your resume on file will come in handy.5. Know what the jargon meansYou aren’t the only one trying to sell yourself as a job applicant â€" the job is trying to sell itself, too. It goes both ways. Most job descriptions tend to be pretty specific, such as experience with Java or 2-plus years experience selling Software/SaaS.Not all job descriptions are that clear cut. Being able to decipher a marketing job description, for example, means cutting through the jargon.eval“Marketers love selling a concept, and it’s no different when we’re writing job descriptions. We can get a little carried away with how we describe the requirements â€" like what does “great culture fit” actually mean and how does one even prepare for that,” writes Patrick Morgan, Conductor’s customer knowledge specialist.When writing your own resu me, try to avoid jargon because it sounds cliched. So, while today’s job seekers have plenty of ways to get an employer’s attention, the tried and true method of a resume can’t be underestimated. You never know who’s going to see it.