Resumes are incredibly restrictive despite being one of the most important documents someone ever presents to a potential employer. In one-page, an individual is expected to condense their most exciting accomplishments, projects, and extracurricular activities that prove that they are qualified for the job or task at hand. Before even meeting someone for the first time, a resume is what tells an employer if someone is worth hiring or not. And with today’s technology, sometimes resumes don’t even make it to that stage.
I think it’s a bit dated to require a document like this, especially with how involved some individuals are or were in their life. I would much rather fill out an application with designated requirements, attend an interview, and talk about my skills and accomplishments in detail. This feels much more personal and a better indicator if someone is truly qualified for a job than a sheet of paper that can barely fit my multiple college educations.
In addition to a resume, many employers request a cover letter. While I understand the efficiency that cover letters provide in the hiring process, I, again, think they’re dated. Wouldn’t you rather meet with me for the first time as a blank slate than center our entire interview around the one-page paper I wrote about myself?
A hiring manager on Reddit tells my exact thoughts. “ I learned a long time ago that resumes are good for brief windows into a person’s life and judging them by a one-page of paper is nearly useless,” they write. “Professionalism isn’t measured in the quality of a suit but how you interact with people. I’ve passed over many well dressed asshats that thought they were better than everyone else and given jobs to people who spoke kindly, with compassion and presented themselves honestly…I believe resumes can add bias, even unintentional bias. Oh, you went to a prestigious college? That must mean you’re better than everyone. Oh, you had a 5 year gap? Must mean you’re lazy. It’s all crap.”
Header photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
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