CV Lies – A new Google Docs update let employers see editing history

Due to the high stakes at play many choose to copy other people’s CVs or use web-based examples to get them started. A recent survey by Marketing Minds found that 69% of respondents find it difficult to communicate in the written form and 25% of those questioned had paid for a professional to write their CV for them.

If you’re in that category it’s worth noting that a new Google Docs update may let employers see your editing history. Whether you’re part of the cut and paste generation ‘borrowing’ from other’s CVs or you’ve had to use spell check to correct all your glaring mistakes, Google Draftback could reveal all!

Created by James Somers Google Draftback is a chrome extension that allows users to see any revisions that have been made to a Google Doc. For the creators of documents made in Google Docs there has been a detailed history of revisions since 2010. Now, any user that has the Draftback Chrome extension and the ‘edit permissions’ will be able to view that detailed history as well.

Many people already use the Google Docs simple interface to produce documents and with this Google extension it seems likely that more employers will ask for CVs to be written and submitted through Google Docs. If you’re worried about what your ‘Google created’ documents could reveal there is the option to hide the revision timeline before you publish the document. If you have already published it, you can copy and paste your text into a new Google Doc. This will remove any revisions made to the previous document.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at Uncovering CV Lies with Google Docs ‘Draftback’ | Hales Group Ltd.