Make a good first impression with a video resume- PART 1

             Ever berated your job search with a helpless, ”If only I could myself in front of the company…”

             A video resume can be the avant-garde answer to all your prayers and then some more. A video profile will add a much-needed sizzle to the otherwise almost ubiquitous resume and catch the employers’ eye. In fact, a talking CV can be the next big thing as the trend is fast catching on, especially with young, web-savvy job seekers.

              Visually enhanced job application provide a unique platform to market yourself by expressing your innovation and creativity, a factor sorely missing in the egalitarian written ones.

              This boosts your chances of being hired manifold, as your resume is no longer just another boring sheet of paper, almost exactly the same as the next person’s!

               So, if conservative job hunting efforts are not paying off, complement them with a video resume to distinguish yourself from the crowd and grab attention.

Doing a good job for it

                Video taping has literally become child’s play with the proliferation of high quality and easy-to-use digital cameras, web cams and camera phones. You can film it yourself or use professional service for a fee. Then it is a simple case of uploading the video to either your own website or free video sharing sites and sending a link to prospective employers’ along with the text resume.

                  In fact, exclusive video resume sites are also being launched where candidates can load their profiles and recruiters can easily access them.

                  When it comes to duration and content, it is advisable to pitch the highlights of your resume within two minutes or so.

                  Begin with a conventional personal introduction in as conversational and natural a manner as possible. Highlight your skills, experience, purpose and other key points in accordance with the resume. Let employers get a sense of your presence, communication skills, thinking style or other specific skills that cannot be demonstrated well in a written resume.

                  Some candidates also answer common real-time interview questions to reveal their enthusiasm, drive and determination. Finally, provide a proper closing that reiterates your interest along with directions on how to contact you.

                  You can either speak straight to the camera or have another person “mock-interview” you.

                  The basic idea is to represent yourself “as you are” and let your personality shine through. Therefore, irrespective of the style, a professional presentation and manner is what is important.

                  So, be well groomed, speak clearly and slowly, and maintain a suitably smiling visage without any distracting expressions. Avoid wild hand gestures, grammatical errors and lots of uhs and ahs. Also, make sure that you do not read from notes or sound stilted/canned.

Then again, the content of the video profile should be tailored to the specific job/industry you are applying for or at the least, to the type of role you are seeking. Even the effectiveness of video CVs as a job search tool depends on the target industry. For instance, they have great potential for sales and other creative fields, but may not garner on equally positive response in conservative practices like law or finance.


For more information see the second part - Make a good first impression with a video resume - PART 2