How to Create an Online Multimedia Resume
The Next Big Step in Web Based Resumes is Rich in Interactivity
May 7, 2009
The traditional paper-based resume has been around for as long as anyone can remember. In recent years, online resumes inside job search engines have become a very popular way to post a summary of qualifications on the web. However, new websites now offer online posting with a more comprehensive, interactive look at the candidate.
What is an Interactive Web Resume?
An interactive web resume is an online summary of qualifications that can include video, audio, text, links, and graphics. While traditional and job search engine resumes are essentially flat, the interactive online version adds an entirely new dimension to the job search. Furthermore, the interactive resume provides an enhanced picture of the candidate's job skills, work history, career objectives, and accomplishments.
What are the Benefits of Posting an Online Interactive Summary of Qualifications?
Interactive web resumes are extremely versatile, allowing candidates to add interactive modules that include articles and books written by writers; music samples for musicians; videos for entertainers; design portfolios for graphic designers; weblinks to resources; pictures; and even Twitter microblog integration. Other benefits include
- the ability for employers to gain a more comprehensive, three-dimensional view of the candidate up front, thus saving time and money in the hiring process
- the ability for job seekers to highlight job skills, capabilities, and career accomplishments in ways that were previously not possible
- increased exposure to interested employers
- potential increase in interviews and job offers
Websites for Posting an Interactive Online Resume
Because this trend in job searching is relatively new, only a handful of websites offer free posting of interactive web resumes. One such website is VisualCV.
VisualCV offers the most robust platform for creating and posting a free interactive web resume. The candidate can go far beyond the traditional summary of qualifications in terms of adding links to resources, work samples, audio, video, and pictures. The job seeker can also add a variety of modules to highlight job skills, capabilities, and work history. Other ways job seekers can a post an interactive online summary of qualifications include
- purchasing interactive resume building software that generates HTML the user can post to a website
- applications in online social networking websites including Facebook and MySpace
- creating a profile on Linkedin professional networking website
Bottom Line on the Future of the Interactive Web Resume
Bottom line, online interactive resumes are a hot trend in careers and employment. When employers view a job seeker’s interactive summary of qualifications, they see a robust, three-dimensional view of the candidate. The job seeker is able to highlight skills, capabilities, and work experience in a multimedia format that can include links, video, audio, text, and graphics.
While it’s not yet time to say goodbye to the traditional paper resume or even the online job search engine summary of qualifications, it is clear that online interactive resumes are trending. At the least, they may serve to breathe new life into the job seeker’s summary of qualifications. And at best, posting an interactive resume may even lead to faster employment and more job offers.
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