20 September 2023

Blind CVs: What are they and what are their advantages?

In today's competitive world of work, the recruitment processes have become a challenge for the recruitment process. for both employers and candidates. Unfortunately, discrimination based on gender, physical appearance and other factors still persists in some work environments, hindering equal opportunities and limiting diversity in companies.

Hiring based on personal bias can lead to the exclusion of great talent and compromise the success of an organisation. That is why more and more companies are resorting to a technique called «blind curriculum» or ”blind hiring” with the aim of promoting fairer and more equitable recruitment.

What is a blind curriculum?

Although we have already talked about what is not included in this type of CVs, there are a series of elements that are essential to structure them in an appropriate way.

Mission statementBriefly summarise your career aspirations and goals.
Professional career: This type of CV focuses on the candidate's experience and skills, so it is very important to detail the entire professional career in chronological order. Companies you have worked for, functions you have performed, projects, etc.
TrainingPlease include education and training related to the position. University degree, vocational training, courses taken, certificates and the educational institution where you obtained them.
SkillsList your skills and competencies relevant to the position. These may include technical skills, computer skills, language skills, interpersonal skills, among others.
Publications: If you have published articles in the media or participated in lectures or trainings, mention this in your CV without giving personal details at this early stage.

Advantages of blind CVs

Using blind CVs in recruitment processes has multiple advantages for the company:

Eliminate personal biasesAs mentioned above, by not including personal details on CVs, biases are reduced, leading to a fairer selection of candidates.
Equal opportunitiesThese CVs are more focused on the skills and professional experience of the candidates, so everyone has an equal chance, regardless of gender, race or any other personal trait.
Improving the quality of recruitmentSometimes, if interviewers are guided by their prejudices and biases, beneficial talent can be lost to the company, so by not having personal information, this type of CV allows the best candidates to be identified.
Greater diversityNumerous studies conclude that having diverse profiles in the company can boost it. This type of curriculum helps companies build more diverse teams and tap into a wide range of perspectives and skills.
InnovationThe diversity of profiles in companies boosts creativity and innovation, helping to generate new ideas that can help drive the organisation forward.

Disadvantages of blind CVs

We have already seen that the blind hiring has many advantages, but there are some drawbacks to this format:

Biases at other stages of the processAlthough these blind CVs perform very well in a first screening of candidates, it is possible that unconscious biases may appear at other stages of the process, such as interviews.
Sectoral limitationsIn certain sectors or positions, where image is essential to the position, this model may not be effective.
Possibilities for manipulationThe lack of personal information with which to contract CV data means that candidates may exaggerate or include false information in their documents.

Digitisation of the blind curriculum with ATS

The digitisation of the blind CV using applicant tracking systems with the ATS system, a system that is used for applicant tracking system, has made selection processes much more efficient and faster.

These systems allow managing large volumes of CVs and applying filters based on objective criteria, which facilitates the identification of candidates with the skills and experience required for the position. By eliminating personal data and applying an approach based on keywords and specific requirements, ATS ensures an impartial and fair analysis of CVs, avoiding bias and discrimination in the early stages of selection.
In conclusion, blind curricula have emerged as a way to effective tool for tackling discrimination in the selection processes and promote equal opportunities in the workplace. It is important to emphasise that, in addition to using blind CVs, companies should also focus on creating attractive, well-paid, flexible, and social benefits to attract and retain talent.