Why do we still use resumes?

I don't like resumes. I love the purpose of the resume. There's a reason they exist and I get that. But, we have a much better alternative now. The demise of this document has been talked about for awhile, and for the life of me, I can't figure out why it's still around.

It's static

The last time you updated your resume, was probably the last time you were looking for a job. More than likely the accomplishments you've been racking up recently aren't being added real-time. Sure, it represents a moment in time and that can be useful. But that doesn't help you right now. You're not a piece of paper, and anything that represents you shouldn't be either.

It's private

Unless you've posted your resume - which is probably old - its sitting in your My Documents folder. The only person who knows it exists, is you. If you don't know a product exists, are you likely to buy it? Amazing opportunities and dream jobs are out there right now. But you won't know about them, because no one knows about you.

Everyone is an expert

If you've ever asked advice about updating your resume, you know what I'm talking about.

"Keep it to one page."

"List your entire work history."

"Just include your relevant work history."

"Put your education at the top."

"Put you education on the bottom."

"Include references."

"Don't include references."

The reality is, it doesn't matter what you do. The information you include, and the format you choose is subjective. And so is the person reviewing your resume. You can't please everyone.

They're confusing

Because every resume is different, I can't always find what I'm looking for. A recruiter is typically reviewing hundreds of resumes a day. We take a brief moment to locate the information we want. If we don't see it within that split second, more than likely we're moving on.

No one likes writing one

Writing a resume is the worst. It's a document designed to highlight your achievements; to market your experience. Put too much, and it looks like your bragging. Put too little, it leaves the impression you're coasting. For many of us, our jobs have become almost instinct. Your actions and behaviors are reflex. It's exhausting trying to convey reflex into words on a page.

So what's the alternative?

LinkedIn. I understand this isn't anything new. But, everyone still recognizes resumes as acceptable currency, while LinkedIn Profiles have the stigma of Bitcoin; just not quite legit enough.

Where resumes fall short, LinkedIn profiles provide a solution:

1. They're real-time.
2. They're easy to edit.
3. They have a universal and easy to follow template.
4. They guide the creation process, encouraging complete information without sharing too much.
5. They're public and easy to share.

Resumes, I'm afraid, are the knee-jerk reaction. The way we've always done it. It's comfortable. But, it's time to move on. We don't need them anymore. They aren't the best representation of you or your accomplishments. They're old, outdated, and played out. Stop spending time on them. Instead, get your LinkedIn profile up to date. From here on, spend a couple minutes a week adding new, relevant experience to your profile. Share your experiences. Engage, connect, and grow your network. Who knows, maybe you'll get noticed. Maybe someone is looking to fill your dream job right now. Maybe they'll find you.

And when they ask for your updated resume... Well, you should probably throw one together really quick. I mean, you don't want to rock the boat now do you?