In a rapidly evolving job market, the age-old text-based resume may soon become a relic of the past. According to a recent study by Canva, a whopping 81% of Indian hiring managers believe that traditional resumes will be obsolete within the next five years. This insight was gleaned from a survey of 5,000 hiring managers and 5,000 job seekers from India, US, UK, Germany, Spain, France, Mexico, and Brazil.
The study also revealed that hiring managers are open to incorporating generative AI (GenAI) into the application process. In fact, 93% of hiring managers in India believe it’s acceptable for candidates to use GenAI in their application materials to enhance their resumes or application materials. Additionally, 74% of Indian jobseekers have already utilized GenAI for their CVs, with 82% claiming that it simplifies the resume-building process and saves time.
Visual elements are also gaining traction in the world of resumes, with 7 out of 10 recruiters preferring resumes with interactive visual elements such as images, graphics, and colors. However, the study also found that 66% of job seekers have only updated the text on their resumes, neglecting the need for visual enhancement.
Moreover, the digital revolution has spurred a demand for digital portfolios, with 84% of hiring managers preferring candidates with work profiles and samples available online. This trend is echoed by the 52% of jobseekers who are already using digital portfolios across various markets.
Amy Schultz, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Canva, commented on the study, stating, “The transformative impact of visuals and generative AI on the hiring landscape has become more apparent, with both hiring managers and job seekers embracing them to enhance the recruitment process. Our research highlights how creativity and the use of Gen AI have notably lowered obstacles for jobseekers in shaping their professional brands, allowing them to stand out in the crowd and land their dream jobs.”
The opinions on the topic are clearly divided, with hiring managers and job seekers embracing the use of visuals and GenAI to enhance recruitment processes while traditionalists may be hesitant to let go of the tried-and-true text-based resume format.