The pandemic has presented us with many new ways to express ourselves and show the employers our talents both personally and professionally and one of those ways is video resumes. A video can often get across more emotion to a recipient than a written article. If you read a touching quote in a newspaper, think of how much more impactful it would be if you saw and heard the actual emotion in the person’s face and voice.
Video resume – Great latitude to present yourself
From the employer’s view, a video resume may offer job candidates great latitude to present themselves in their best light, just as a traditional print or online resume does. And in an increasingly visual age, employers may view video resumes as an easy way to skim through applicants. Hiring managers in the U.S. appear to be receptive to the idea, with 76% of more than 1,000 respondents saying a pre-recorded video of a potential candidate would be useful. Hiring managers can watch, listen, learn, and make decisions based on what’s presented on a visual platform.
So what exactly is a video resume? A video resume is a filmed presentation that is used to add appeal to a job application. Video resumes are promotional in nature; they enable an employer to understand or get a feel for how applicants present themselves. They generally highlight a prospective employee’s background and qualifications for the desired job. Video resumes are usually supplemental, which means they are accompanied by a more comprehensive resume in a text-based format. Video resumes can be used to set a prospective employee apart from other candidates. They can also be used as a follow-up after an initial phone or face-to-face interview. Video resumes are ideal when used for job opportunities that require public speaking, interpersonal skills or creative technical skills.
That said, a video resume may not be the right choice for everyone in every situation. So, what are the pros and cons of video resumes? First, a video resume lets you retain control of the narrative. For example, if you have an employment gap in your resume, it’s hard to explain that on a one- to two-page resume. However, in a video resume, you have more space to explain said employment gap, making it easier to give it context and meaning. Second, you can embed the video resume on your personal website or LinkedIn profile. This gives prospective employers a chance to get to know a different side of you before an interview. Lastly, most applicants don’t use them. Using a video resume is an opportunity to demonstrate that you’re on top of technology and fully plugged into the latest ways to apply for a job.
But before you invest in a ring light and tripod, know that video resumes have some cons, too. For starters, you should consider possible questions and concerns video resumes could raise about hiring rules. Among the potential concerns is whether a candidate who commits their image to a video resume could raise bias issues if they’re rejected for a candidate of a different gender, race, or physical ability. Also, video resumes are often subject to the same level of scrutiny as their print or digital counterparts. Just because you’re on video, do not over-embellish career highlights.
If you’ve decided a video resume is the way to go or you’ve been asked by a prospective employer to provide one, make sure you have your ducks in a row. That is, you don’t want to kill your prospects for getting hired by submitting a low-quality video. An out-of-focus image, poor sound quality, a disheveled appearance, or a sketchy-looking background could doom your chances of getting the job.
A few things to avoid include:
- Off-topic subjects or other verbal content that doesn’t focus on the job or your qualifications
- Poor production, including bad lighting and shaky camera work
- Little or no eye contact or engagement with the camera
- Excessive hand or body movement
- Clothes or random or distracting items strewn across the background
- Children, other family members, or pets wandering in and out of the room
- Distracting noises in the background (or at least those within your control)
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Tips for creating a video resume
Beyond making sure you look good on camera, what else should you think about before creating your video resume?
Be Professional
Just as you would in person, you still need to be professional when appearing before the camera. So, be sure to look, dress, and, most importantly, act the part. It’s a good idea to be dressed in a suit or other professional outfit and be well-groomed, just as if you were sitting across from a prospective boss.
Be Informative
While you might be tempted to simply read off what you’ve already written on your resume, viewers of your video are going to want something more. Do some research before you record your video to uncover some new information that fellow industry professionals — and hiring managers alike — will find interesting. By offering extra content, you’re putting yourself ahead of the competition.
Be Appealing (but Don’t Overdo It)
Filming a video resume means that you get to further expand upon all of your previous accomplishments and accolades. While it’s a good idea to be conversational in a video, be mindful of bragging. List your accomplishments humbly — and let them speak for themselves.
Be Practical
Uploading a large file (or even attempting to email it to a potential boss) will create all sorts of problems. If possible, use an HD camera or a smartphone for good quality video results and keep your video to under one minute. That way, the file size won’t be too large in case you need to email it with other job applications.
Be Cool
Staying professional in your video doesn’t mean you can’t add a little style. Though not always necessary, you can use basic video editing programs to trim some parts of the video and also add special effects like fade-outs, transitions, and title cards.
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Bibliography:
Techopedia. (2011, September 14). What is Video resume? — definition from Techopedia. Techopedia.com. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/14024/video-resume.
Flexjobs. (2020, December 30). Video resumes: What are they and should you have ONE?: FLEXJOBS. FlexJobs Job Search Tips and Blog. https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/video-resumes-rise/.
JobHopin Team