More than one-third of executives believe that resumes are less important to the job search process than they were five years ago.  According to an executive survey conducted by the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry, seventy-seven percent of survey respondents identified networking as the most important part of the job search process, followed by interviewing (16 percent), social/online presence (4 percent) and resumes (3 percent). 

"Resumes are not going away? they're still an important part of the overall job search process," said Peter Keseric, Managing Consultant - Financial Services and Real Estate, Korn Ferry Futurestep.  "However, nothing gets a candidate ahead like networking. And networking today is a contact sport."

Although all respondents reported that they read candidates' resumes during the hiring process, 51 percent of executives surveyed said they spend less than five minutes reading a candidate's resume and 13 percent spend less than two minutes.  With that in mind, it is important that candidates take time to craft a resume that is concise, proofed, and details the candidate's direct work experience.  Ten percent of those surveyed said they would disregard a candidate if they found a typo or bad grammar in the candidate's resume, even if the candidate had appropriate qualifications, and 46 percent said they would keep the candidate in the pool, but with reservations.

"Several elements go into the making of a successful job search," said Keseric. "Candidates who know how to communicate and create compelling resumes will have an advantage. But at the end of the day, direct experience and fit helps puts them over the top."