Online resume service VisualCV gets venture capital

A new online resume site has launching with backing by venture capitalists. Its called VisualCV and its aim is to "reinvent the resume". This is the first such service to my knowledge to ever receive VC funding. Most of these sites have yet to gain any kind of momentum with job seekers.

Read their press release.

The site is free for job seekers and employers can also create a presence. Job seekers get their own unique URl and can add elements such as video and PDF file. VisualCV converts your traditional resume into a live Internet document. It includes a custom representation of your experience and achievements along with text, images, charts and video. Job seekers can get the service for free.

"The site is free to job seekers and does not expect to carry advertising. It plans eventually to charge companies for premium features." (according to the Washington Post)

VisualCV is perhaps the slickest online resume system I have seen to date. The problem with most of these sites in the past is that they have not been well received by job seekers. Although VisualCV is cool, it has LOTS of competition. A blog can easily replicate most of its features. Sites like Emurse already have a headstart. And social networks, namely LinkedIn have already proven they are viable resume alternatives. So in that respect I am surprised that they got funding. As a free service they are going to have get a ton of job seekers to create any kind of value for investors. And why would a company eventually pay for such a service when they already have a website?

Is it a cool tool? Yes. Is it unique? No.

But I wish them luck.