Update Your Bio Day – August 10, 2024

History of Update Your Bio Day

While it seems like a 21st-century invention, bios or resumes have existed way back in the 15th century. It was Leonardo Da Vinci who sent the first resumé in recorded history back in 1482 when he sent a letter to a regent in Milan, Italy. His letter contained a breakdown of his skills, expertise, and experiences for an engineering job post he was applying for. Historians note that he even hired a professional writer to craft the resumé for him to make it look decent. However, he didn’t get the job. But the landscape of job hunting and applications has changed forever.

In the 16th century, a land surveyor from England named Ralph Agas also developed and improved upon Da Vinci’s concept of a resumé by making his version more detailed, specific, and easy to read. This was the start of the modern resumé structure we know today. However, the term ‘resumé’ is French, which is why other historians claim that its country of origin is France.

By the 20th century, applicants began writing down a series of information relevant to the jobs they are applying for. Some details included a brief bio (name, birthday, birthplace, address), educational background, skills, and past experiences. As years went by, companies started to require applicants to have a bio/resumé with a neat cover letter expressing their intent to apply. By the late 20th century, resumes evolved into printed form, making them cleaner, sharper, and more professional.

As soon as the 21st century hit, resumés started going online. In fact, companies now use their websites to gather a pool of candidates for potential employment. Others would simply temporarily upload their resumés in their personal job hunting accounts and update them from time to time.