The era of paper resumes and curriculum vitae documents is pretty much over. Over the last couple of years, we have seen a major shift towards digital formats with regard to presenting our professional profiles, and it is safe to say that this is not a passing trend. Digital technology is hardly static, particularly when it comes to collecting, managing, and transferring information; for this reason, we can bet on the future of professional profiles becoming more sophisticated and interactive.

To understand how far we have come from the days of paper resumes, let’s take a look at this professional profile on Crunchbase. Notice how the overview provides a quick snapshot of the individual followed by the various hubs in which this professional belongs to or is active in. The next section presents news and recent activities directly related to the individual, thus neatly wrapping up the profile. The Crunchbase profile template is similar to the one offered to LinkedIn users, and it happens to be very effective for our times; however, there is always room for improvement.

Augmented reality, virtual reality, and quick reaction codes are emerging as the next set of technologies that will improve the design and functionality of professional profiles. Let’s take a brief look at how these technologies are shaping future resumes:

For the Ultimate in Engagement, Try Virtual Reality

The 1994 film “Disclosure,” directed by Barry Levinson, suggested that virtual reality would be widely adopted by the enterprise sector by the end of the 20th century. We know that has yet to happen; however, this has not stopped creative job seekers from creating VR resumes that have been highly successful in terms of getting the attention of recruiters and interviewers. As can be imagined, most VR professional profiles are utilized by developers of this technology, but some clever accountants applying to positions at tech companies have taken advantage of this medium in order to stand out from. As for online professional profiles, if you can create a VR version on your website, by all means do so because this technology is here to stay.

QR Codes in Resumes

Believe it or not, paper resumes are still being used in 2020, and the same goes for business cards. We know that online profiles are superior to resumes, but some hiring managers and recruiters are stuck on paper for various reasons. Sticking a QR code that can be scanned with a smartphone is a smart way of redirecting recipients of resumes and business cards to your online profile, which will invariably be more comprehensive.

Augmented Reality

Resumes with AR features can be very engaging, but they are a harder sell if they require specific mobile apps for the full effect. As long as the required AR app is on the Apple App Store or Google Play, you should not hesitate to suggest readers to install it so that they can get a fully engaging experience; moreover, this can be a good reason for incorporating QR codes on business cards or paper resumes.