Traditional resumes are out, social media resumes are in

For a few years now, social media platforms have allowed their users to promote themselves and their talents. Each post, tweet, photo, and reblogs are a way to introduce their personal brands to the world.

And it is working! With employers struggling to fill vacancies, some recruiters are turning to social media to find the most capable candidate for their open positions.

Bailey Showalter, VP of Talent Solutions at software company Credly, said that although the need for a resume has remained constant, this new era of hiring calls for a more modern perspective.

Studies show that a hiring manager spends, on average, six to seven seconds reviewing a resume. 

At that time, hiring managers need quick, easily digestible insights to help determine if the candidate is qualified to move forward. 

Luckily, social media can help with this! While social platforms do not show every waking minute of individuals’ lives, they highlight meaningful moments and entice viewers to learn more about an individual.

Digital credentials can bring greater reliability and trust to the hiring process. By browsing an applicant’s social media account, recruiters can have a summary of what they have done, the other things they can do, and the possible contributions they can give to the company. 

It also provides greater insight into an applicant’s abilities rather than saddling hiring teams with the task of filling in the blanks.

So while a resume is still the “primary currency” of hiring, its formatting and delivery have evolved with the ways of the new age.

For hiring teams, reorienting their talent management strategy is crucial to understanding this new era of skills-based hiring. Social media has provided an excellent opportunity to understand better what does and doesn’t work in this digital environment. 

Each individual has a chance to show their unique skills while hiring teams will have a competitive advantage in finding and retaining the best talent.

Recruiters and hiring teams need to adjust their approach to what a resume should entail—with an emphasis on skills as the forefront of qualifications—to recruit better and hire the right fit for the job.

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