Aug 3, 2009

A LinkedIn Profile is not a substitute for a resume

Posted by Wendy Weber

I am a big fan of social networking.  You will find me on Facebook and LinkedIn, and to a lesser degree, Twitter.

However, I am encountering more and more candidates that are directing me to their LinkedIn Profile when I ask for a resume.

Although social networking can serve as an excellent source of potential leads and contacts, when exploring new career opportunities, a fully developed formal resume is still a necessity.

Developing a resume is an overt action that shows a potential employer that you are seriously interested in a new position, not just curious to hear what is out there.

A potential employer wants to see your entire career history accompanied by your precise dates of employment in each position, your accomplishments at each company and your educational history.

Telling a potential employer to “take a look at my LinkedIn profile” in lieu of a resume is not sufficient.   It is important to have a current resume, despite the popularity and easy access of social networking sites.

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