A few years ago, the idea of posting a video highlighting your professional and academic achievements online was regarded as a novelty. Some job seekers tried it, but they risked public scorn.
Aleksey Vayner was perhaps the best-known poster child for video resumes gone wild. Created in 2007, Vayner’s seven-minute self-promotion for a job at an investment bank featured the Yale student displaying his nimble ballroom footwork and his ability to slice seven bricks with a single karate chop. The video was leaked to YouTube and quickly became an unintentional Internet comedy sensation.
Now, many hiring professionals consider the video resume to be a plausible recruiting tool. A search on YouTube for “video resume” produces nearly 13,000 results. Some are slick and well produced; most are clearly homemade efforts with low production value. Job seekers serious about gaining the full advantages of video resumes may want to consider using a professional service such as videoBIO. videoBIO develops short, Web-based video biographies that use a script, are shot in a studio and are professionally edited.
Not all recruiters are used to receiving video resumes, but eventually the video resume will be a standard Catherine Fennell, CEO of videoBIO, said. “It is just a matter of how long it takes.” TheLadders offers the following tips for job seekers looking to add a video component to their job search.
Click through for tips from TheLadders on adding an effective video resume to your job search toolbox.
Employers review most paper resumes in less than 10 seconds; bear that in mind and keep your clips short.
Don't bother with VHS tapes, DVDs or CD-ROMs. Provide a link to the video resume instead.
Don't use YouTube, Vimeo or any other video-server service where other material may provide distractions. Many companies block their employees’ access to those sites anyway.
Divide your presentation into video segments with a progress bar below the frame so employers understand how much longer the clip will run. Don't use online video players that remove the bar.
Never use a teleprompter. Employers will think of it as cheating.
Never edit an answer or patch together the voice track. It erodes viewer trust.
Beware poor production values. Not using a tripod; low camera quality; poor sound; rough compression; or worst of all, poor lighting, will kill your chances of making a good impression.
