Nearly half of all bosses fill vacancies based on personal recommendations rather than relying on CVs.
New research shows more and more managers would rather give a job to someone they knew than trust a list of qualifications and experience.
A survey of 250 small and medium size firms, for the Employment Law Advisory Services, reveals that more than four in ten do not insist on a CV before hiring staff. Experts say some are put off using the CV method in case they are sued by disgruntled applicants who fail to win a job.
In TV reality show The Apprentice, contestant Paul Tulip boasted he has been recruited for his last two jobs without a CV. However, he was the first to be told by Sir Alan Sugar: "You’re Fired." Mr Tulip’s competitor Ansell Henry similarly admitted to hastily putting together a CV to get a place on the TV series, having not needed one for years.
But Pam Rogerson, of the Employment Law Advisory Services, said: "The CV is the guarantee that can protect a company from a range of legal problems. Whenever you decide not to recruit a candidate, especially a minority candidate, there is the risk that they will feel prejudiced against and issue tribunal proceedings.
"To defend such a case, it is essential that an employer can prove they have done everything by the book.
"Even where a candidate has not exaggerated his or her own abilities – which can result in automatic dismissal – having a CV on file is a basic piece of procedure."
