Are CVs Becoming Outdated?

There was a time, not all that long ago, when a CV was the centrepiece of any job application. A neatly formatted document, usually no longer than two pages, listing your qualifications, work history and maybe a few interests to round it out. You emailed it to a hiring manager or uploaded it to a job board, and that was the start of the conversation.

But in today’s increasingly digital, hyper-connected world, we’re beginning to wonder:
 

Is the traditional CV becoming outdated?

Or more accurately, is it evolving into something bigger, broader and more alive?

At Bright Purple, we speak to a huge range of professionals in tech, digital and design every day, and we’re seeing clear signs that CVs are no longer the single source of truth. Instead, the way people represent themselves professionally is shifting toward what you might call a ‘digital thread’, a connected, ongoing story that lives across platforms, portfolios, codebases and conversations.

The CV’s Limitations in a Multimedia World

CVs are efficient. They’re tidy. They’re easy to scan. But let’s face it, they’re also static and often reductive.

No matter how well designed or eloquently worded, a CV can only do so much. It tells someone what you’ve done: your roles, your responsibilities, your timeline, but rarely how you did it. It offers a list of past employers or projects but often skips over the real impact you had, the creative decisions you made, or the problems you solved.

For developers, designers, marketers, and other digital professionals whose work is inherently dynamic and interactive, this can feel limiting, even frustrating. These are people building live systems, creating immersive experiences, iterating on feedback and collaborating in real-time. They don’t just talk about skills, they demonstrate them. And in today’s multimedia-rich environment, they finally have the tools to do just that.

GitHub Repositories and Live Code: A New Kind of CV

For software engineers and developers, platforms like GitHub, GitLab or Bitbucket are quickly becoming just as important as a CV, if not more so. These platforms offer a kind of transparency and immediacy that a written résumé simply can't compete with.

A recruiter or hiring manager can visit your GitHub profile and, within minutes, gain deep insights into your technical capabilities. They can see your actual code, how you write it, how often you commit, what kinds of problems you tackle and how you collaborate with others. They’ll notice your naming conventions, your pull requests, your documentation style. It’s not just a portfolio; it’s a window into your engineering mind.

Even better, GitHub showcases the ongoing nature of your work. You’re not just listing achievements, you’re constantly adding to them. Whether it’s contributing to open-source projects, experimenting with personal tools or collaborating on larger teams, your GitHub is a living, breathing proof of your ability to build, adapt and solve problems in real-world scenarios. Something no static document can replicate.

UX Portfolios and the Power of Projects

For designers, especially UX, product and visual designers, the equivalent of GitHub is the online portfolio. But it’s not the old-school PDF of logos and layouts anymore.

Today’s portfolios are immersive, interactive and often crafted with as much care as the projects they showcase.

Rather than just listing software tools or past employers, modern design portfolios walk viewers through entire case studies. They outline the full design journey, from initial research and user interviews to wireframes, iterations, testing and final outcomes.

Some include embedded prototypes, others use animations or short videos to explain their thinking. The result is a compelling narrative that communicates far more than a bullet point ever could.

What’s most powerful about this approach is that it doesn’t just show what someone made, it reveals how they think. You get a sense of their process, their priorities and their ability to empathise with users. Are they methodical? Curious? Strategic? Innovative? That all comes through in the storytelling. And again, none of this depth fits inside two pages of monochrome résumé text.

LinkedIn Recommendations and the Weight of a Network

Then there’s LinkedIn, an increasingly powerful component of modern professional branding.

A well-maintained LinkedIn profile goes far beyond a CV. You can feature work samples, share thought leadership articles, highlight endorsements and, crucially, collect recommendations from colleagues, clients and mentors. These testimonials add colour and credibility. They provide a human element. They validate your experience in a way that no bullet point can.

We’re also seeing a growing emphasis on a person’s network, who they’re connected to, what communities they’re part of, what conversations they engage with. The ripple effect of your digital presence on LinkedIn can often lead to unexpected opportunities, even when you're not actively applying.

Blogs, Podcasts and the Rise of the Personal Brand

Another fascinating trend is the way people are using content to build personal brands. From technical blogs to opinion pieces, podcasts to video explainers, professionals across the digital space are sharing their expertise publicly, and it’s changing the hiring game.

When a hiring manager stumbles across a candidate’s article on Medium, or listens to them speak on a podcast, it creates a stronger connection than any line on a CV ever could. It says: This person has a point of view. They’re passionate. They care about their industry.

We often advise our candidates, especially those in competitive markets, to consider creating some form of content. It doesn’t have to be polished or perfect. What matters is authenticity and a willingness to put your voice out there.

Events, Meetups and the Value of Visibility

Don’t overlook the value of offline engagement, either. In a digital world, showing up in person still matters.

Speaking at industry events, participating in meetups, hosting workshops, these are all valuable components of your professional identity. And increasingly, they’re becoming part of that digital thread too. Whether it's a link to a talk on YouTube, a tweet thread from a panel discussion, or even an event badge proudly shared on LinkedIn, these experiences add texture and credibility.

They say something about your engagement with your industry, your willingness to share knowledge, and your ability to connect with others, skills that are increasingly prized by employers.

So… Is the CV Dead?

Not quite. We still see CVs playing a vital role in recruitment, especially in the early screening stages, or when applying via formal systems. But the CV is no longer the whole story. In many cases, it’s just the front cover.

What matters more is the complete professional narrative you present. That includes:

• A well-curated LinkedIn with endorsements, recommendations, and engaging activity
• A relevant GitHub, portfolio, or personal website that brings your work to life
• Any articles, blogs, videos, or podcasts that showcase your thinking
• Your professional network and how you engage with it
• Event participation, talks, panels, and contributions to the wider community

Together, this creates a rich, multidimensional profile, one that communicates what you’ve done, how you work, what you care about, and who you are.

Final Thoughts: Bring Your Story to Life

At Bright Purple, we’re always looking at how people represent themselves, beyond the CV. We’re genuinely fascinated by the shift toward this more human, more connected and more holistic way of showcasing professional identity.

So, if you’re looking for your next opportunity, don’t feel confined by tradition. Your CV is just one part of the puzzle. Build your digital thread. Share your work. Start conversations. Let your passion be visible.

Because in the end, hiring isn’t just about finding a list of qualifications. It’s about finding people, and people are more than just a piece of paper.