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The Resume is 542 years old. Is it still relevant?

The advent of skills-based development and hiring is hopefully the final push for us to realize the resume should be retired.

Resumes have been around for so long that job seekers and employers don’t stop to question its relevance. Does the resume still hold the same value as it did when it first originated? Resumes were used in the middle ages by Artisans and skilled workers to detail their qualifications. The resume’s existence was first recorded in 1482 when Leonardo Da Vinci was seeking a job in Milan. The resume did not reappear until the 1930’s, but even then resumes weren’t formal. It was later suggested that women not write resumes. Men were encouraged to write resumes that include their photo, age, weight, height, etc. Though, providing that information seems acutely irrelevant to job skills and experiences. 

During the 50’s resumes became a requirement rather than a formality. By the 80s there were several technological advancements. Resumes started looking more professional, books were written about resumes, and the fax machine emerged by the late 80’s to quickly send resumes. During the 21st century, technology was integrated into the recruiting process and people started to share their resumes through email and creating professional profiles on LinkedIn.

The resume is traditionally a tool that is utilized to get the attention of employers and present yourself as the perfect applicant. It details your work experience, listing previous jobs with company names, locations, job titles, dates of employment, and key responsibilities and achievements. Your education background is included, with institutions attended, degrees earned, and graduation dates, along with any relevant coursework or honors. Finally, a skills section showcases both hard and soft skills pertinent to the job you’re applying for.

Looking into the future, AI is a stakeholder in helping job seekers tweak their resumes. This will make it easier for people to land interviews after a resume review. AI automation will assist in helping job seekers include keywords that will be picked up by applicant tracking systems and providing help with substance, framework, and layout.