Why You Still Need a Resume Even If You Have a Great LinkedIn Profile
Posted October 4th, 2016
As more of our daily lives shift into a digital format, it can be easy to believe that your LinkedIn profile can function as a substitute for a traditional resume. However, there are many reasons why you should keep your resume up-to-date, and available, even if your LinkedIn profile truly shines. Before you dismiss this career tool as being somehow antiquated, consider these points.
You Will Be Asked for One
The biggest reason you need to have a resume ready to go is simple; you are going to be asked to provide one. Whether you are filling out applications, or applying for jobs, on your own, or if you are contacted by a recruiter based on your LinkedIn profile, you are going to be asked for a resume the majority of the time. This isn’t something you want to argue about with a recruiter, or human resources department, as arguing the validity of a resume is not going to win you any friends.
Instead, it is wise to just accept that this is still part of the current paradigm. With that, feel free to put a link to your LinkedIn profile on your resume, just make sure and put forth the effort to create a resume that is worth reading on its own.
Applicant Tracking Systems Rely on Resumes
Hearing about an applicant tracking system is the job-hunting equivalent of a four-letter word. These systems have been in place for a long-time, and they tend to function on legacy technology. For the applicant tracking system to do its job, it needs data to be presented in a particular format; that format is the resume.
While many may argue that applicant tracking systems should be updated to work with the technology of today, many companies are not going to make the investment until it is a necessity. And today is not that day.
Resumes are Targeted, LinkedIn is General
It’s true that your LinkedIn profile likely contains more information than your resume, and that might be the problem. Not every hiring manager wants to search through your entire profile to find the parts that are relevant to them.
A resume provides a snapshot of the most important details of your experience and education based on the job for which you are applying (or, it at least should be). By requesting a resume, those involved in the hiring process can get the details they need without anything they consider superfluous. Your LinkedIn profile is partially about quantity, while your resume should be only about quality.
Accuracy and Detail Checks
If a company compared your resume to your LinkedIn profile, would they see different versions of the same story, or are you telling two different tales? Mismatched information could indicate that the applicant is either trying to hide something, or is falsifying certain pieces of information. It may also demonstrate a lack of attention to detail, which can also spell doom for your employment search.
Two Pieces, One Puzzle
Your resume and LinkedIn profile are important for different reasons; they should be considered two parts of the same puzzle. By making them work together as supplements, instead of trying to have on replace the other, you will be prepared to meet the needs of any application or job opportunity.
If you are looking for your next job opportunity, and want to make sure your resume is up to the task, the employment specialists at Bayside can help get you on the right path. Contact Us Today!
