There is no doubt that social media has had a tremendous impact on the employment marketplace. The social media platform that’s had the most impact has been LinkedIn.
However, as a job seeker or candidate, you should understand that your LinkedIn profile is NOT your resume.
I know for a fact that some people believe their resume and their LinkedIn profile are the same thing. That’s because I’ve asked professionals to send their resume to me, and they’ve responded with, “See my LinkedIn profile.”
While you might think that this is an acceptable practice, I strongly encourage you to think twice before doing so. If you try to use your LinkedIn profile in place of your resume, you run the risk of bringing your credibility and your candidacy into question, and you don’t want to do that.
What I do recommend is updating your LinkedIn profile at the same time you update your resume, and keep them both consistent. A hiring manager will look at them both, but they will do so at different times and for different reasons.
The resume is still a vital part of the hiring process, and it should not be dismissed, especially if a recruiter or a hiring manager has asked you to send your resume to them.
Your resume and your LinkedIn profile are both parts of the hiring process. Be sure to pay the proper attention to each one and understand the different roles that they play in your job search.