A recent national survey has revealed that public confidence in the power of the traditional paper CV is low. The results indicate that more than 80% of Britons believe employers do not take the time to read through every written CV they receive for a job application. The survey, which asked 4,000 respondents their views on traditional recruitment policy, also found that more than 85% of us doubt employers read through all of the information presented in a written CV when processing responses to job applications.
Further limitations of the paper CV were also revealed, with over half of respondents recognising the format’s ineffectiveness in showcasing candidates’ true personality and real qualities; attributes which 86% of respondents agreed were more important than educational qualifications in certain occupations.
Time for change?
The weaknesses of the paper CV are highlighted at a time when jobseekers are fighting to be noticed in an increasingly competitive job market, and reveals a real problem for those wishing to truly stand out from the crowd and secure highly coveted roles. Employers seeking to target the perfect candidate are also faced with a dilemma: finding the necessary information-rich but time-efficient recruitment solution. The processing of reams of written CVs is both time-consuming and costly.
Growth in the post-recession market means that the weaknesses of the traditional CV become starkly obvious – the prospect of employers missing the right candidate because of lack of thorough processing, for example, or the risk of spending valuable time interviewing a candidate with a strong written CV but poor communication skills, are both unwelcome prospects.
In an increasingly paperless world, can the paper CV thrive, or is change a welcome option? It seems so, and as the digital world appears to lead the way in the recruitment sector, low confidence in the paper CV means video is increasingly being recognised as the CV option of the future.
The alternatives
The survey unveiling public attitudes towards the traditional CV was conducted by established London recruitment agency Meet The Real Me, which has supplemented a traditional placement-focused service with the launch of a cutting-edge job-seeking solution for the digital age. Following two years’ development and piloting, 6th April of this year saw the launch of www.MeetTheRealMe.co.uk: a comprehensive subscription service that will allow employers access to thousands of candidates, and more specifically, allows candidates to upload a structured and yet wholly individual Video CV. These videos supplement an extensive personal profile available for view and assessment by subscribing professionals.
Quick to recognise the promise that the service provides, employers already embracing the merits of MeetTheRealMe.co.uk include Admedia, and publishing powerhouse IPC Media, Reed Business Information, and Euromoney. The forward-thinking nature of the video CV is reflected in the calibre of employers seeking to source the perfect candidate - by combining personal profile, written CV, and charisma – and jobseekers are signing up to reap the benefits of this in their droves.
Job specifications consistently stress the vital importance of good communication skills, and yet the best candidates are often overlooked in the act of CV processing. The impact of this on the overall standard of applicant thriving in CV assessment is most strongly seen in customer-facing roles, such as sales. For those jobs that depend upon outstanding communication abilities, gaining a flavour of candidate’s personality earlier in the recruitment process is invaluable.
Lesley Kemp, Personnel and Development representative from Admedia affirms, “Using Meet The Real Me’s bespoke service has evolved Admedia’s recruitment process: we are increasingly aware that the common factor connecting successful employees is the way in which they were recruited, and as such our process itself has become more attribute-focussed. As well as matching a certain skills base, Admedia have identified 5 key attributes our people must have. With energy and straightforwardness being two of those qualities without the Meet the real me approach it would be near on impossible to measure our candidates.
“I would describe Meet The Real Me’s service as innovative and refreshing; the virtual interview stage prior to actual interview adds excellent value to us as a company relying on time efficiency... [the service] completely fits with the Admedia ethos of creativity, both internally within our company, and externally in our work.”
The launch of the site marks a pioneering change in recruitment procedure, and in the ways which hirers are able to communicate with potential employees. Subscribing firms benefit from access to the Video CV of each potential candidate, and value the chance to assess certain qualities that cannot be conveyed effectively in a written document. Meet The Real Me’s Video CV offers employers the chance to view candidates who have augmented the qualifications and experience listed on a chronological CV and personal profile with a taste of the character at the root of the credentials.
Meet The Real Me’s Managing Director, Brian Michael, said, “As developments in technology continue to shape the modern world, there is no reason why recruitment shouldn’t evolve with the times. MeetTheRealMe.co.uk does exactly that: incorporating the prominent position of digital media with a fresh and innovative solution for those HR professionals and job-seeking applicants who are tired of the limited returns of the paper CV.
“The service provides a new platform of communication between employers and employees, and piloting has shown the efficacy of a system that sees this connection result in successful placements time and time again.”
To discover more about the future of recruitment, visit www.MeetTheRealMe.co.uk.
