Electronic CVs and Traditional CVs

With the invention of the computer and growth in technology, the Internet is increasingly being used by individuals, whether they are participating in social networks, working from home, or sending CVs to apply for jobs. There have been many discussions about Writing a CV, detailing what information to include and what to omit in order to maximize effectiveness. However, the mechanisms used to send your CV to an employer are seldom discussed. This is why most of us follow tradition, either mailing a CV to the employer or delivering it by hand. Thankfully, times have changed. Your CV can now reach an employer within seconds, even if you are miles apart.

Electronic CV is the term used for a plain text CV that can be delivered as an attachment through e-mail (electronic mail). These CVs, like any other CV, inform the employer about the applicant's qualifications, professional experience, skills, and related achievements. The only difference between the traditional, paper CV and the modern, electronic CV is that paper CVs can only be processed by humans, while electronic CVs can be processed electronically by a computer.

A Web-based CV is a HTML formatted document posted by an individual on a CV-hosting website. Employers access these websites through a dedicated URL assigned only to them. They use these websites to search for prospective employees and they contact individuals whom they consider suitable.

Electronic CVs can be used in conjunction with electronic scanning, optical character recognition (OCR), and data mining to identify qualified applicants within a database. These systems give a "green signal" only to CVs that match a pre-determined set of specifications. Though these systems lessen the employer's burden of going through each CV personally, they also have disadvantages. For example, a deserving candidate could be overlooked if the candidate's CV does not include certain keywords defined by the employer, or if the format of the CV is altered in any fashion.

Understand that these CV sending styles have their own positive and negative aspects. The ease and simplicity of a printed CV could be just right if you are applying to a nearby organization, or if you have plenty of time before the CV needs to be reviewed. An electronic CV should be just as fine if you reside far away and need your CV to reach the employer as soon as possible. A Web-based CV also works for those who submit their CV directly on a website set up specifically by an employer for that purpose.