In the recruitment process, a curriculum vitae, aka CV, was the employers’ only way to assess and rank applicants’ experience, skills, and key achievements. Today’s job search market has evolved to include, not only records of professional experience, but also new proactive talent acquisition methods beyond the good old traditional recruitment process. Here’s why having a sharp CV might not be the only reason for landing a job today.
Are CVs being phased out?
An online platform dedicated to connecting job seekers with employers through their professional experience profiles, LinkedIn has taken the lead in the hiring process for millions of employers around the world. The social network, with over 810 million users globally, has now become the go-to channel to sniff out potential candidates.
According to Andy Ingham, Senior Vice President of Sales at Bullhorn, a global leader in recruitment software, CVs won’t be the only criteria for finding the best candidates.
Besides their professional resume, potential candidates now have wider opportunities to display their skills in more engaging ways that draw an employer’s attention. A fundamental new record player of a job search, a digital portfolio gives you an edge and distinguishes you from other candidates.
How digital portfolios help you land your dream job
A digital portfolio is your brand and the visual support to your CV. It is where employers see your work, skills, and your ability to perform a particular job. Whether it’s artwork, photography, blog posts, illustrations, web-based material, or spreadsheets, showcasing all of your material in one place helps employers decide whether you are the perfect fit for the job or not.
But are digital portfolios enough to get picked for the job? The answer is NO. Many employers resort to additional pre-interview tests and assessments to determine whether candidates are the best fit for a particular role or not. Those assessments enable potential candidates to demonstrate their skills beyond their professional records.
Skills: The currency of today’s job market
While the traditional proxies like your degree, diploma, or CV are necessary, skill is the currency of today’s job market. Recruiters are now looking for candidates who have the right set of skills that match a job opportunity. Having additional skills in your professional experience, like photography, coding, writing, or photoshop, can help your application stand out and show potential employers your willingness to learn, grow, and expand your knowledge base.
Candidates who have functional skills like leadership, time-management, problem-solving, teamwork, and show desirable qualities like empathy, integrity, and adaptability grab employers’ attention and are at an advantage in their job application process.
If you would like to acquire new skills for your current or next job, assess your current skill set, make a list of the skills or certificates you’d like to earn, and enroll yourself in online courses or programs within the endeavor you’d like to explore. Rule of thumb when it comes to acquiring skills is to take ‘one skill at a time’ and not overwhelm yourself with too many courses you won’t be able to commit to.
The new modified hiring process has helped recruiters expand their talent pool and enabled them to source the right candidates. Meanwhile, candidates who have solid skills can now transition to better job opportunities that match their career goals and aspirations.
