The History of Resumes

Did you know Leonardo da Vinci is credited with many inventions, including the first professional resume in 1482? In the 1500s, a travelling Lord presented a handwritten letter of introduction and called it his resume.

During the late 1800s, when industrialisation meant people were no longer trained as children to take over their parent’s jobs in the village, letters of introduction helped get a job. Still, it was more about vouching for the person than listing the candidate’s experience. By the 1930s, resumes were often created on scraps of paper, possibly over lunch with the employer.

In the 1940s, a resume would include personal details like height, weight, married status, and birthdate. By the 1950s, resumes were expected for any job. By the 1970s, resumes are typed on a word processor.

In the 1980s, the first video recording of resumes is seen with VHS recordings for some high-level positions. Resumes are created with headings and small sections of information, and many include social interests and hobbies unrelated to the workforce. Even with a video recording, employers expect a typed and formatted resume.

In the 1990s, with the advent of the Internet, resumes were expected to be emailed to apply for positions. When Adobe Reader became available in the mid-1990s, the pdf format was preferred for resumes, which were still usually formatted in Word, and may include a photo of the candidate.

In the 2000s, interactive and video resumes take off. YouTube offers video resumes that candidates can easily send a link to prospective employers to watch.

Today, a summary may be more like a multi-media presentation, with links to short videos, minor headings, and graphically designed to catch attention.