I would like to nominate the resume for inclusion on the endangered species list. As a tool for candidates to review their work histories and consider their careers in whole, the resume is fine. But so is a piece of hotel stationery on which you can list all of your past jobs, responsibilities, good work habits, solid references and the like.

As a method for displaying to employers what you've accomplished in your life (which they then use to serve as a predictor of your future behavior), a resume can be modestly helpful as well. The catch is that fewer employers want to see your resume than ever before, and that number is shrinking daily.

No matter how you find out about a job opportunity, if the employer has any interest in you at all, you'll inevitably be asked to complete an online application form. The reason is simple: company HR departments are now structured to accept, process and archive applications online to fulfill EEOC, OFCCP and other federal requirements. I've heard from several HR professionals that they require every new employee, including those filling chief-level positions, to complete this online-equivalent of a structured online resume. And frankly, I think it's a good thing.

Forcing any candidate to create a resume that accurately documents his or her work history, while presenting it in such a compelling way that they must be scheduled for an immediate interview is an unfair task. Job hunting is hard enough without forcing potential hires to become brilliant wordsmiths, in addition to interviewing flawlessly and negotiating like sports agents. I remember well candidates who labored over their resumes for weeks, making sure every line included meaningful details written just so. Then they'd hunt for the right stock of paper after debating the merits of ivory vs. bone white. The choice of stamp was always the final consideration.

Thank goodness those days are gone. Making a good impression as a candidate should rely on skills, experience and training, and online applications have been created to capture just that and nothing more. They're easy to complete and absolutely objective, which should please every well-qualified applicant while disappointing those who specialize in fluffing their credentials and double-talking their way through interviews.

Of course, the emergence of video resumes is a nail in the heart of candidates who would rather not be evaluated on their ability to look good while also trying to explain why they're a perfect fit for the job opening. But acceptance of videos remains spotty and certainly not required at any companies so far other than perhaps You Tube.

To be sure, some candidates say they really benefit from the tasks associated with writing a resume, which force them to decide what they want to highlight and prioritize. I agree there's nothing more valuable than focusing on the duties you really want to handle in your next job.

So here's a proven exercise that I think accomplishes the same goal:

1. Take out a legal pad and down the left side of the lined paper, write down everything you really liked about your last job, as well as aspects of previous jobs that you enjoyed. Maybe it was running a certain meeting, or completing a high-level report each month. Whatever it was, write it down.
2. Now, down the right-hand margin, make a list of those things you really disliked about your last job and those before it. If you had a problem with your boss or a colleague, try not to focus on specific people, but instead write: "Stay away from micro-managers," for example.
3. Underline the three or four items from each list that are most important to you to either achieve or avoid.
4. Write a job description that includes those things you most like to do and that keeps you away from the things you dislike. Once you have this job description, you're ready to identify opportunities that are a perfect fit, and you can complete online applications that reflect your real goals. You can even use this description to write a stunning resume - if you feel that you must.