Do CVs still matter to media employers in the LinkedIn age?
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The short answer is yes, they really, really do matter.
These days, it’s pretty common for people to ask if they need to bother with a CV. If they’re using LinkedIn to apply for a job, is there really a need?
It’s certainly a way to cut a corner, but you’d be skipping a really important step in the job search process. The best chance you have of landing the job of your dreams is to use both a CV and LinkedIn.
Your CV and LinkedIn are two separate but complementary items that serve different purposes both to a recruiter and to yourself during the application process and at different stages.
LinkedIn is more than a CV. It’s a social media platform, created to boost your work life and work self. It’s about building a personal brand, networking, sharing knowledge, and showing off expertise. That means while you might cover the same information in both your CV and your LinkedIn profile, you probably do it in different ways.
LinkedIn is a generic overview of your education and experience, whereas CVs can be (and should be) tailored to specific roles and potential employers.
Your CV is the main means of applying for roles, and should serve the purpose of giving recruiters a factual and chronological insight into your skills and experience to date. What’s more, the recruiter will need to know why you are both interested in and suitable for this job specifically and will need something a little more tailored than your generic LinkedIn profile.
Your LinkedIn profile is a place to find out more about you – stuff that tells a bigger story than your CV and might not fit into, or be relevant to, your CV.
So, now that we’ve established the importance of CVs, what can you do to ensure yours stand out from the rest?
Tailor it every time
Every job is different, every application is different, and every Hiring Manager is looking for different things – so tailor, tailor, tailor! There is no point in sending out the same CV for 8 different job applications.
Research each company, and include buzzwords that may jump out to the person reading the CV. Also, where you can, try to make subtle references to the job description, so the company knows you’re a good match.
No more than two pages
One important thing to remember is try to avoid overdoing it when it comes to your CV. The likelihood is that the hiring manager has a pile of other applications to read, so the last thing they want is a 5 page CV from you. Keep it concise and to the point! As we know, the recruiter will look at your Linkedin profile too, for a broader picture.
Choose language wisely
Every company has a different brand identity, and a different tone – so you should be mindful of that when doing up a CV to apply for a role. If you are applying for a media role in a bank, you may find that using a more formal and corporate tone would be best. Likewise, if you are applying to a less corporate company, an informal tone may work better. Check out the company website or brand page, to get an idea.
Although a LinkedIn won’t replace your CV, you do always need to make sure that your CV matches your Linkedin exactly (think dates etc).
Good luck on your job search!
Rebecca O’Keeffe is content manager at Mediatel Jobs’ partner Jobbio. If you’re looking for a new role, be sure to check out our job board now.
