The world today is very technology-centered. The Internet has become the go-to resource for doing everything from finding information and connecting with friends to paying bills and booking trips. This is also where many people turn to find jobs. Though newspapers do still advertise job openings, the Internet gives job seekers access to a much broader range of options.
LinkedIn has become a valuable resource as well as it allows professionals to connect and network. Recruiters can scope out potential candidates and job seekers can become more engaged in finding openings and learning about companies. So now that you’ve crafted a polished LinkedIn profile that will attract positive attention, does that mean your resume is obsolete? Not so fast. There are many limitations to only relying on a LinkedIn profile.
It’s more difficult to get your resume into an employer’s hands. You can provide a potential employer with a link to your profile but they actually have to go there to learn more about you. Handing someone a hard copy of your resume, attaching it to an email, or uploading it to their job system can be a lot more beneficial. While having your resume on LinkedIn does allow a greater number of employers to find you on their own, if you’re targeting a specific company or position, having your resume on hand can be much easier.
You can only tailor your LinkedIn profile so much. If you’re applying to more than one type of position, what you highlight on your resume may change. You want to make adjustments according to each job opening, even if they’re only minor. This can improve your chances of landing an interview. But with LinkedIn, you cannot change what each employer sees. You have to choose what you want to display while still making it look concise and cohesive. Being too broad or trying to capture multiple job titles in one summary can actually have a negative impact.
You can’t adjust the format. The setup of LinkedIn is the same for everyone. You don’t have a choice in how things are ordered or displayed. With your resume you can move things around and add bolding, horizontal lines, and other formatting changes to impact how it looks and where a recruiter’s eyes are drawn. For instance, new graduates may want to list their education first to make it more prominent, but on LinkedIn education is at the bottom.
Search results are limited. As long as a recruiter is searching on LinkedIn, they will be able to find you based on specific keywords, experience, education, and more. Outside of LinkedIn, these search options are not as convenient and will not drive traffic to your profile. You can upload your resume to various job boards or have an online portfolio that allows a wider range of employers to find you. And having a hard copy means you can submit it to any openings that strike your interest. You are more in control.
So while LinkedIn can be highly useful and the team at Chic Resumes recommends uploading your resume to the site to enhance your job search efforts, it is still essential to have a polished, professional resume as a Word document or PDF. If you are struggling with how to craft your resume or what to include, contact Chic Resumes today at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net.
Amanda E. Clark founded Grammar Chic in 2008. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and holds degrees in Journalism, Political Science, and English. She launched Grammar Chic after freelancing for several years while simultaneously leading marketing and advertising initiatives for several Fortune 500 companies.
