Make a good first impression with a video resume- PART 2

Not such a good idea               Video-enhanced job application can give you an edge on the competition, but at the same time, it is essential to stand out for the right reasons. As a Yale student and aspiring investment banker recently learnt to his horror, he sent a six-minute video to financial services powerhouse UBS entitled, "Impossible is nothing". Between showing off his athletic prowess with weight lifting, karate swoops and ballroom dancing, he spouted self-improvement slogans and opined on success. The video bounced from bank to bank in New York and ended up on a video-sharing site. Waxing lyrical over himself with, "A model of personal success and development to everybody " and "Failure cannot be considered an option", he quickly became the biggest laughing stock online!

                While there is ample space for creativity and subtle humour, the potential embarrassment of cheesy comments or over-the-top gaffes can be hard to live down. As life coach , Pamela Mitchell reiterates, "Watch out, there is a fine line between a successful video resume and one that might be better left on the cutting-room floor!"

                Cultivate the right message that is serious, professional, yet interesting. Plan the film well and edit the rambling, lest you end up as the object of ridicule.

               All said and done, video profiles are the wave of the future. But this is not to say that they should completely replace text resumes. Video resumes just provide a visual imagery that supplements traditional resumes. They increase your chances of getting a face-to-face interview only if your original resume is a good match!