Is the resume dead? Thomas Friedman on 'how to get a job' in the 21st century

How can we match extremely talented job seekers with companies that are desperate for skilled new employees?

That question has been preoccupying the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and, in Tuesday’s New York Times, columnist Thomas Friedman.

Like the MEDC, Friedman sees problems on both sides of the job hunt. Employers are not good enough at describing precisely what they need, and prospective hires are more concerned with listing their credentials than actually demonstrating how they can add value to a company.

HireArt, a venture-backed startup company, believes they can help improve the process by creating custom tests that require applicants to demonstrate skills they will use on the job. According to Friedman, applicants need to focus on showcasing their skills in tests like these, because employers no longer care if they were acquired at a university or self-taught online.

Ann Arbor-based startups like Seelio and Meritful have taken a different approach, helping high-school and college students develop interactive portfolios that showcase practical application of their talents.

According to Friedman, whatever path job seekers and human resources professionals choose, the days of just sending in a resume and hoping for the best are over.

• Read Thomas Friedman's column in the New York Times.

Ben Freed covers business for AnnArbor.com. You can sign up here to receive Business Review updates every week. Reach out to Ben at 734-623-2528 or email him at benfreed@annarbor.com. Follow him on twitter @BFreedinA2