Job Seeker Blog - Spark Hire

Resumes: The Past, Present, and Future

Resumes: The Past, Present, and FutureAs a job seeker, it’s important that you stay up to date on the latest and greatest trends when it comes to your resume or portfolio.  Take a look at your resume and how it has evolved over the years.

Resumes of the Past

Back in the day, resumes were typed in Times New Roman or similar fonts and paragraphed formatted, all printed out on special resume paper.  You know the paper I’m talking about – the cream-colored, textured card stock that you had to go to Staples to purchase in the decorative and professional looking box.  At the bottom of everyone’s resume, it was religiously typed, “references available upon request.”

These resumes were mailed via the U.S. Post Office to a hiring manager in response to a job ad.

Resumes of the Present

Boy, have things changed!  In today’s modern world, resumes no longer need to be printed on fancy paper or sent via the U.S. Post Office.  Typically, resumes are sent electronically, in addition to a few printed copies for an in-person interview.

No longer is the paragraph format desired on a resume.  Bullets are preferred and make it much easier for the hiring manager as well as the job seeker to reference throughout any interviews.

There is no longer any standardized font required and many job seekers are getting creative with their resumes now.  Adding designs, color, and even different sized fonts are fairly common in today’s resumes.

Currently, a new trend is the video resume.  Rather than only having a paper resume, many job seekers are getting on board and creating video resumes.  These are short videos of the job seeker describing their experience and sometimes even demonstrating their skills by taking video of themselves at work (discretely of course).  Some companies are accepting video resumes, while it is still new to others.

Resumes of the Future

Looking towards the future, video resumes will be an upward trend.  Many job seekers are finding that video resumes allow them to express not only their experience, but also their personality and the type of work environment they excel in.  Right now, a video resume will help you to stand out as a job seeker.  However, in the future it will become the norm and most companies will be expecting video resumes from candidates.

Take a look at your resume and decide what you need to do in order to keep up with the times and stand out amongst other job seekers.  You do not want to have an old fashioned resume from the past, while other job seekers are wowing hiring managers with their creativity.

What do you think about upgrading your resume to a video resume?  Share your thoughts below.

Image: venimo/BigStock.com

Julia Weeks

Julia is a skilled Recruiter with over 8 years of experience in sourcing, interviewing, and hiring within many industries globally. She works closely with hiring managers and job seekers to understand needs and desires, while offering guidance and ensuring the right fit. When not recruiting or writing, Julia enjoys spending time outside cycling, taking her dog for walks, or honing her sailing skills.

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