Why have your resume in MyKad?

TO make it more convenient for job seekers, the Labour Department has proposed that soft copies of resumes be stored in the MyKad.
According to a report two Sundays ago, the department director-general Datuk Sheikh Yahya Sheikh Mohamed said the proposal had been made to the Human Resources Ministry, which would study the available technology and costs. The move is to relieve the burden of job seekers, especially school leavers.

While the idea is good, I wonder if it is practical, considering the fact that resumes need to be updated each time one changes jobs, acquires new skills or gains new paper qualifications.

If a self-updating feature is available, and the user is allowed to freely access the MyKad, then the authorities will have security issues to contend with.

Is the technology worth the investment when there are so many online networking sites that offer resume templates, and which can be easily accessed via any mobile or desktop web browser?

Some of these sites are not only created by professionals, but are as easy to use as the email.

A good example is Linked-In (www.linkedin.com), created nine years ago. It has 90 million users worldwide and an infrastructure few can equal. Not only does it provide resume templates, it also has a professional contact networking feature. It can be used to find jobs, people or business opportunities. You can even list jobs and seek potential candidates. Job seekers can check out the profile of the potential employer and see which of their contacts can introduce them to the vacancy.

Moreover, Linked-In is not the only site with all the bells and whistles that young job seekers today expect.

So, how relevant will the proposed resume feature in the MyKad be to the average modern job seeker, who is well-connected and technology-savvy?

That aside, there is little sense in using sophisticated -- and probably costly -- technology to perform a job as simple as the storing of a resume.

The MyKad should instead contain vital information such as its holder's medical history and allergies (like the Medic Alert band).

It could even have a geo-location of the holder's home or workplace, with widespread use of global positioning system (GPS) devices. The phone numbers of the card holder's next-of-kin would inarguably be useful in an emergency.

For resumes, just use a flash drive -- it's easier to carry and cheaper, too.