Can Online Profiles Replace Your Resume?

Some time ago one of the people I worked for asked me for my CV so they could put it on file. I agreed and searched my desktop for an up to date version of the document. To my surprise, the only version I could find was last updated in 2006. Why was this?

In part it’s because I use social media a lot and the place where my most up to date work information can be found is on LinkedIn. I tend to add new gigs there when they happen and to collect testimonials and expand my network. I also have several online profiles on freelancing sites as well as my own portfolio site. All of those are more up to date than my resume. Does that mean that I don’t need one? I’m not entirely sure.

You see, although I spend a lot of time online, I always advise writers that they shouldn’t ignore the offline market — newspapers, magazines, small businesses looking for marketing material and the like. If you take this tip, then you will perhaps need to have a physical meeting with someone (remember those?) and take in that piece of paper that outlines your credentials. Not everyone you meet will be web savvy and many people are more comfortable with the format they know.

That doesn’t mean I’ll stop updating my online profiles. On the contrary, keeping them up to date is essential for anyone who makes their living online (or who wants to be found by those searching online). However, I’m also taking my own advice, so I’ve updated my offline resume as well.

This post was originally published in Writing Lab News.