Will Resumes Ever Be Replaced?

I often get asked whether resumes will eventually die out. There have been many attempts to replace resumes over the years, but resumes aren’t going anywhere, at least not anytime soon. 

Despite predictions that LinkedIn profiles, AI-driven assessments, or skill-based hiring would replace them, the resume remains the basis in the hiring process.

These were some of the biggest attempts to replace them:

LinkedIn Profiles: A powerful tool, but not customizable for different jobs, and not everyone is on LinkedIn. Though widely used by recruiters, applicants are still expected to provide a resume.

Video Resumes: Recruiters spend no more than 6-10 seconds looking over a resume to determine potential. Videos are time consuming, introduce bias, don’t fit into hiring systems and simply not practical.

Infographic/visual Resumes: ATS systems can’t read them properly, can be difficult for applicants to create, and for recruiters to understand in depth.

🤖 AI Skill-Based Hiring: Promising, but still used in addition to resumes, not instead of.

So why are resumes still here?

Customization & Control: Job seekers can tailor resumes for different roles, unlike LinkedIn profiles.

Hiring Systems Depend on Them: ATS and hiring software can’t work well with other formats.

Quick Screening Tool: Recruiters scan resumes fast to filter candidates efficiently.

Universal & Accessible: Most practical and easy to use, and the most widely adopted. 

If resumes were ever to be replaced, what do you think it would take?