Some say that LinkedIn is slowly killing resume. If this was true, people would send emails with nothing but a link to their LinkedIn profile to potential employers. But they don’t. Regardless of how social media oriented our world is, resume is not dead.
LinkedIn is currently used by over 414 million professionals around the world. Almost every recruiter will go and check you on LinkedIn right after they read your resume. That’s right, they have to read your resume first.
In some areas of expertise, having a LinkedIn profile is a must. This involves corporate jobs, businesses, tech, startups, etc. so if you’re applying for a position in, say, marketing, programming, sales, or administration, be sure to have a LinkedIn account. On the other hand, artists, medical doctors, social workers or public sector workers can easily live without it. But they surely can’t do without a resume.
7 main differences between a resume and LinkedIn
1. Resume is more relevant than LinkedIn
Your LinkedIn profile usually contains all the info about your professional life — both relevant and not relevant to the one who’s viewing your profile, whereas your resume is specifically tailored to each job position you’re applying to so it sums up only the relevant knowledge and skills.
2. Resume has a different purpose than LinkedIn
The primary goal of LinkedIn is to connect with people from your area of expertise. The goal of a resume is to get you an interview and, ultimately, a new job. Both serve to document your professional life, but you typically don’t use LinkedIn as a means to find a job.
3. Every resume is different, every LinkedIn profile the same
A LinkedIn profile is standard for all users — all sections go in the same order, the design and structure are the same with every profile, the only thing that differs is the info provided. On the contrary, you can design your resume in any way you want to. That’s both a blessing and a curse in some cases.
4. Resume doesn’t contain a photo, LinkedIn does
Including a photo with your resume can lead to discrimination and bias, which is why it’s very unwelcome in many countries. On LinkedIn, there’s a photo section by default. Of course, you don’t have to upload your photo to your profile, but then there’s Facebook, where the recruiter might go looking. It’s a vicious circle. And yeah, a resume without a photo is alright. But a LinkedIn profile without a photo might come across a bit fishy.
5. Resume is concise, LinkedIn is much more complex
A resume is generally a one or two-page document and the reader’s experience is limited to the information you provide, whereas LinkedIn redirects the viewer on all sorts of other pages and profiles. It contains plenty of other info that resume doesn’t, such as who recommends or endorses you, articles you’ve written, videos and links you shared, things you like, people you follow, etc.
6. Resume is private, LinkedIn is public
Your LinkedIn profile is public so you have to be careful what you post there. You might not want to disclose all the info about you on LinkedIn but you might do so on your resume — if it’s a relevant info for the recruiter to know. Also, the recruiter might take the info you provide on your resume more seriously because let’s face it: there are tons of lies on social media.
7. Several resumes, just one LinkedIn profile
While you have only one LinkedIn profile that you only update with new information from time to time, you can’t just have one resume. You have to adjust your resume for every company or a job position you’re applying to. Hence, your resume tells more to the recruiter than a LinkedIn profile which often contains too general information.
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