Could the conventional one-page CV be a thing of the past? Deloitte, amongothers, is encouraging the use of “personal user manuals” instead of CVs. These comprehensive documents are a place where prospective employees can share personal details, including work habits, communication preferences, and even hobbies, aiming to make integration within existing teams more seamless, reports the Financial Times.

There’s a platform that can help guide you through the process. Freelance strategist Matt Knight has adopted these manuals to make it easier to work with new teams, although he is not the first. When the idea caught on, he made the Manual of Me platform where you can follow templates and classes on how to produce these personal guides. Most people aren’t sure what to put down when given free rein, he says, so he wanted to help people through that and he thinks it might eventually replace the CV.

But they shouldn’t be mistaken for an instruction manual — rather, they should be used to stimulate meaningful discussions and relationship building. Kate Sweeney, head of human capital consulting at Deloitte, emphasizes that these manuals should serve as prompts, creating a space for individuals to share insights into their personalities and working styles. In practice, writing these manuals often involves collaborative workshops where team members navigate and discuss their traits together. This team-based approach fosters a deeper understanding among group members and cultivates a sense of camaraderie, ultimately enhancing team cohesion and productivity.

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