Millions of Brits will be busily updating their CVs this month as they join the January job hunt, but new research reveals employers no longer see a traditional CV as an effective way of assessing potential candidates.
Recruitment specialist Hello My Name Is… (HMNI) questioned hundreds of UK business leaders to ascertain what makes one CV more engaging than another and discovered that candidates uploading a video accompaniment alongside their CV have the edge. “While the technology for video applications has been in place for some time, only now are candidates taking full advantage of this option, which in turn has given recruiters a real appetite for innovative applications,” said Jonathan Flint, joint managing director of HMNI with partner James Hyde. “As such we predict a video accompaniment will be an essential part of applying for a job in 2014.”
Dubbed a “MeVie” the latest video concept, available at www.hellomynameis.co, enables job-seekers to present themselves in a more engaging and personal way by showcasing their personality and personal attributes – something way beyond the capabilities of a written CV.
This direct approach has gained the support of several corporate firms that are inundated with applications, including high street leader Marks and Spencer. The retail giant’s executive director of general merchandise, John Dixon, said: “As an employer, there’s no doubt it can be problematic differentiating between candidates by CV alone. The MeVie allows you to see beyond the CV to the person behind it. The development of the MeVie is going to transform recruitment.”
HMNI founders James Hyde and Jonathan Flint, who have more than 40 years’ combined experience in executive search and recruitment, say that the MeVie comes at a time when employers view the traditional CV alone as a dated recruitment method – especially with an average of 85 applicants per job.[1]
And it seems job-seekers themselves agree. Looking into the effectiveness of CVs for both job-seekers and employers the study of both businesses and individuals commissioned by HMNI found that 74 per cent of job-seekers no longer deem a traditional CV, viewed in isolation, to be an effective tool in securing a new job. While many agreed a CV plays an important role because it demonstrates academic achievements and work experience, 83 per cent said it has become outdated as it fails to portray important qualities such as personality and confidence, as well as interpersonal and communication skills.
Indeed the research demonstrated that the majority (85 per cent) of job-seekers believe their personality is equally as important as their qualifications and experience when it comes to being successful at their job, and one in ten believe that in today’s social media-savvy world there needs to be a fresh approach, so employers can see more of what a person has to offer during the initial application process.
What the research[2] found from a recruiter’s point of view:
- More than 70 per cent of recruiters find it hard to judge between CVs when the majority of candidates are equally well qualified.
- Over 95 per cent would consider making a job offer to an individual who had qualifications less than those stipulated, if upon meeting them they seemed to be perfect for the role in every other way.
- More than 94 per cent believe a CV doesn’t always give the full picture of what a candidate has to offer.
James Hyde, co-founder of HMNI, said: “The MeVie is the leading trend in recruitment for 2014 and beyond. It’s set to revolutionise both the way people apply for jobs and the way recruiters shortlist applications, by embracing video as an effective solution to seeing beyond the CV.
“Our research confirms it can be really tricky for recruiters to differentiate between candidates’ written applications but a MeVie gives job-seekers the ability to showcase so much more than their qualifications.
“Forty years of collective experience has taught us that January is the peak month for job searches and the Monday following the first full week back in the office after the festive break is the busiest date of all in the job search calendar for 2014. As such we have labelled January 13th National New Job Day and to mark the occasion we’re giving one January job-seeker the opportunity to embark on a rewarding career in recruitment with Hello My Name Is…”
[1]Research by The Association of Graduate Recruiters 2012 www.bbc.in
[2]Research carried out by 500 recruiters by Your Say Pays in January 2014
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