Augmented Reality CVs - Form Over Function?

As competition in the job market continues to grow and grow, job seekers are constantly on the lookout for new and innovative ways to display their talents and experience to potential employers. These methods include the obvious (Linkedin profiles), the fairly obvious (video CVs and personal pages) and the new (augmented reality CVs). Here we question whether or not this new form of CV is actually of benefit.

The main issue

The main issue currently is the lack of access to the technology required to create an augmented reality (AR) CV. In the example that inspired this post, a green screen was required to shoot the main content and then virtual computer-generated 3D imagery was later added. This involves a lot of work and a lot of expense. Over time the technology and software required will become more accessible, but it will be some time before employers will be seeing large numbers of augmented reality CVs. That is if they ever take off at all.

Access to technology isn’t the only issue

There are a number of questions that also need to be considered in relation to AR CVs:

• Do recruiting managers, with 10’s or 100’s of CVs or applications to sift through, do I really have the time to watch an augmented reality video?



• Chances are, no they do not. With text CVs a recruiter can sift through applications at a speed of their choice, taking a matter of seconds to decide whether a job applicant should be put forward for the next stage of interviews. With AR CVs, or video CVs for that matter, the recruiter has to passively watch the video through to gain the information they require, as opposed to proactively searching through the information at their usual pace. The information is delivered at a rate set by the applicant, not the recruiter, and this is frustrating. Add to this the fact that the recruiter has to print out the AR trigger and make sure they have a webcam plugged in, and it does not look good for AR CVs.



• Does a recruiter want to hold up a piece of paper containing the AR trigger to their webcam for the duration of the AR content?

Not really, no. AR does offer a wow factor that can be very impressive in the right setting. Unfortunately the first stage of the recruitment process, where recruiters aim to work as efficiently as possible, is not the right setting.

• Are the skills used to create an AR or video CV relevant to the applicant’s desired role?

In more creative industries, an innovative take on a CV would help chances. If however they are used in applying for a role where these skills are not required, this may not be the case. In some situations this sort of CV may actually harm your chances of being put forward for a position. Consider the benefits of an innovative CV before investing time in creating one.

Job seekers should remember the following

Job seekers must remember that whilst these innovative tools add another dimension to job applications, they are completely useless if a CV and cover letter fail to entice the recruiter to find out more about the applicant. If an applicant spends all of their time creating an alternative CV and submits a poor text CV, their hard work will be wasted. When writing a text CV, remember the following:

• Include relevant keywords that relate to experience and desired career move. Important words relating to desired job title and relevant qualifications should appear multiple times through a CV.



• Add a ‘Key skills’ section to your CV, which consists of a list of skills and qualifications relevant to your expertise. This will help with keyword density as well as making the recruiter’s life easier as they browse your CV searching for the information they need.



• Avoid writing in first person, this comes across as unprofessional.



• A job seeker has a matter of seconds to convince a recruiter to read their CV in detail. The introductory paragraph should state who they are, their background and what makes them good at what they do.



• Do not try to innovate by applying images and colours to a CV. Doing this creates a gaudy document that is difficult to read and will work against an application. Use simple fonts and only use black text. Use white space and left-aligned text to make the document easy to read.



• Prioritise CV content and allocate page space accordingly. Ideally a CV should take two pages of A4, do not waste too much of this space going into detail about old information (school clubs, old pass times, etc) and try to condense your old qualifications, e.g. 10 GCSEs grades A-C inc. English and Maths.

To summarise, AR CVs are a nice to have but will not be exploding onto the job search scene just yet. For now job seekers should concentrate on creating a CV that meets the needs of recruiters and effectively demonstrates their skills and experience. If it adds impact to your job application, and only once a high quality standard CV has been created, then look to more innovative tools to display your qualities as an employee.