Sometimes, the best way to understand how much the world has changed is to look back at something as ordinary as applying for a job.

I still remember when I first applied for a job as a dive instructor in the Maldives. There was no online application, no email attachment, and certainly no WhatsApp interview. I sent my application by fax.

Yes, fax.

I am not even sure how I found that number as there was no google search. Nowadays the internet also helps you to find out more about the island and your employer. I only knew the bare minimum. I didn’t see a job offer on Facebook, I just knew I wanted to work in the Maldives.

At the time, sending an application by fax felt like modern technology. You prepared your documents, found a fax machine, entered the number, and waited for those familiar sounds as the pages were transmitted. Once it was sent, you simply hoped that someone on the other end had received it.

Today, the process of applying for a job is completely different.

I now interview new staff for around an hour, often through a WhatsApp call. A candidate can send their CV electronically, arrange an interview, and have a conversation with a potential employer without travelling anywhere.

But while technology has changed, one thing remains important: your first impression matters.

Your CV Is Your First Introduction

Before I speak to a candidate, I usually look at their CV. A good CV doesn’t need to be complicated or filled with unnecessary information. Use Chat GPT only if necessary. If you use it too much, you come across unreal. It should be clean, professional, easy to read, and honest.

Your CV should clearly show:

• Your full name and contact details
• A professional photograph
• Your education and qualifications
• Relevant work experience
• Instructor or teaching experience
• Training and certifications
• Relevant skills
• Languages you speak
• References, if appropriate

And please remember when applying for a job, that the photograph matters.

A CV photograph doesn’t need to be a professional studio portrait, but it should look neat, clear and approachable. Choose a recent photo where your face can be seen properly, with a simple background and appropriate clothing.

And one small piece of advice: please don’t use a photograph where you are wearing sunglasses.

Sunglasses may look great on the beach, on a boat, or enjoying a beautiful Maldivian sunset. But your CV is a professional introduction. The person looking at your application should be able to see your face and get a sense of who you are.

Your CV photo is not your holiday photo.

From Fax to WhatsApp

When I think about when I was applying for my first job and compare it with recruitment today, the difference is remarkable. I know I am showing my age…

My application once travelled through a fax machine.

Today, a CV can arrive on my phone in seconds.

And then, instead of waiting days for a response, I may be speaking to the candidate through WhatsApp.

For a country made up of hundreds of islands, this change is particularly useful. Candidates don’t always need to travel simply for an initial interview. Technology can bring people together regardless of where they are.

But technology is only the tool.

The person behind the CV is what really matters.

The One-Hour WhatsApp Interview

When I interview someone today, I am not just looking at their qualifications.

I want to understand the person.

Can they communicate clearly?

Do they have the right attitude?

Are they genuinely interested in becoming an instructor?

Can they work with students and colleagues?

Do they understand the responsibility that comes with teaching?

Are they willing to learn?

Will they fit in the team?

An hour-long conversation can tell you a lot.

It is also important for candidates to remember that a WhatsApp interview is still a job interview. Just because you are speaking from your phone doesn’t mean you should treat it casually.

Find a quiet place. Check your internet connection. Make sure your phone is charged. Dress appropriately. Be prepared. And give the interviewer your full attention.

What Hasn’t Changed?

The technology has changed from fax machines to smartphones, from paper CVs to digital documents, and from face-to-face meetings to WhatsApp calls.

But the human side of recruitment hasn’t changed.

People still want opportunities.

People still want to build careers.

People still want to make a good impression.

And employers still want to find someone who is capable, professional, reliable and passionate about what they do.

So, if you’re applying for an instructor position today, remember: your CV is your first handshake, and your interview is your chance to show the person behind the CV.

Make both count.

Because you never know where that first application might take you.

I know that better than most—from sending my first application by fax to interviewing the next generation of instructors through WhatsApp.