If you’re wondering how to get a job without a resume, there’s a good chance you don’t have an up-to-date CV. The idea that you can get a job without an impressive resume and well-written cover letter might sound ridiculous. After all, isn’t that the first thing recruiters ask for on all job applications
But what if you don’t have an up-to-date resume or relevant work experience? Do you still have a chance at landing the role? Let’s take a look!
How to Get a Job Without a Resume: Is It Possible?
Would it be possible to apply for a job and showcase your work experience if you don’t have a CV that’s up to date? Well, in most cases, you can’t—especially when you’re looking for a role that focuses more on prior experiences than education credentials.
However, there are always a few exceptions to the rule! It might be possible for you to get a job without a resume if your situation falls into one of these specific scenarios:
- You have an internal reference at the company. If you have a professional or personal reference from someone on the hiring team, you might be able to skip the formalities of filling out a job application.
- You’re applying to a new role at a company you already work for. If you’re looking to move internally to a new role with your current company, there’s a good chance you can do so without a resume.
- You want to work for yourself. Of course, if you’re a business owner, you don’t need to worry about your resume. Whether you freelance or run your own company, a resume likely won’t play a major role in your success. As a freelancer or contractor, however, you may need to create a portfolio of work examples to demonstrate your skills to potential clients.
Are You Applying to Jobs as If You Don’t Have a Resume?
Now we’ve established it is possible–but rare–to get a job without a resume, you know how important it is to include a resume as part of your job application.
That said, if you’re making these common mistakes, you may as well be applying to jobs without a resume!
Your Resume Is Out of Date
You need an updated CV at all times in order to apply for jobs. But if your CV is out of date, you may as well be applying without a resume at all!
You Use the Same Resume for Every Job Application
Most people use one CV for the year that they use to apply for all jobs, regardless of whether or not the CV includes the relevant information for that job application.
Why would someone apply to a job without a resume? The biggest factor is lack of time to tailor each application to every job you’re applying to. That’s also one of the main reasons that recruiters don’t get back to you: your resume wasn’t tailored for the job they were hiring for.
Your Resume Isn't ATS-Friendly
Many companies rely on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automatically parse CVs, so if your CV is not “ATS-friendly,” you could be hurting your chances of getting hired. Essentially, your resume needs to include specific keywords and information in a way that the ATS can easily understand and recognize.
Not familiar with what an ATS is looking for from your resume? Check out our guide on how to create an ATS-friendly resume here.
Using Technology to Simplify Your Job Search
It can be so time-consuming to tailor your resume to each job that many people simply don’t apply for roles that require a brand new CV.
This creates a problem for everyone involved in the hiring process: recruiters need tailored resumes so they can immediately pick out the most relevant ones, but it takes too much time for jobseekers to effectively customize their resumes every time.
So, what’s the solution?
Although it’s not easy to get a job without a resume at all, you can use a website like GrabJobs to automate and streamline the application process.
For example, GrabJobs’ Dynamic Profile Creation feature allows you to update your information automatically when you apply for a job using the platform.
This type of automation is useful to both applicants and hiring managers. Here are some examples of why a smart job platform can help you get a job without a resume that’s tailored to each and every role.
Automatic Profile Updates
A good job platform should use the information you use in your first job application to create a profile for you, and then dynamically update/overwrite that information whenever you apply for another role. That way, recruiters will always see the most updated information, without you having to manually change your resume each time.
This also means that the more interview chatbots you respond to, the more optimized and elaborate your job profile will be.
And how does this work? Chatbots are a popular tool that many businesses use to ask common pre-screening interview questions. Chatbots can get all the time-sensitive questions out of the way, like availability, expected salary, years of experience, etc.
Mobile-First Is the Future
Businesses that aim to speak to consumers need to be mobile-first. After all, most of us spend more hours on our phones than on a computer. This may be especially true if your current role keeps you on your feet all day.
The interview chatbot should be located in a mobile app, with the ability to conduct all interview activities through the app as well. That would be a massive time-saver for job seekers!
Schedule Interviews More Easily
Another popular tool that not enough people are using is an Interview Scheduler. Recruiters can put in the hours that they’re free, and then the job seekers can choose which interview block they want to go for.
It’s so much more efficient than going back and forth asking, “When are you free?”
Use GrabJobs to Find Your Next Opportunity
Tired of managing different versions of your resume for different jobs? Why not create your profile on GrabJobs and start applying ASAP? Find a job on the portal and see how it works today!
