LearnHub

Are Video Resumes an indication that screening applicants based on keywords/resumes will be a thing of the past?

Video Resumes are revolutionizing the way companies are searching for candidates. A video resume allows a candidate to personally market oneself by presenting a resume and a video that will be watched by employers. But don't think that a video Resume is the same as a video interview! The video interview is comparable to a video conference in which employer and jobseeker interact with each other, while a video resume is a short video created by the candidate for employment in which he presents his skills, qualifications, experiences, goals etc. verbally.

There are various advantages for Recruiters and Hiring Managers in searching job candidates using video resumes. The candidate's presentation and communication skills can be seen and judged online, it speeds up the recruitment process, it reduces costs on preliminary interviews and furthermore, they can be found in the same way as text resumes and will be received as job applications.

On the other hand the job-seeker advantages are: it allows to bring out their personality and further elaborate on their experiences in their own words, the content can be tailored to a specific company, it can be rehearsed and recorded as often as possible until the perfect video is created. Last but not least, currently it still makes a candidate stand out. But in the future video resumes might become the norm.

What about the disadvantages ?

Hiring managers are facing discrimination issues (hiring candidates because of how they look and sound rather than their qualifications) and it might also take them longer watching a video than screening a resume on paper.

Jobseekers might argue that not everyone feels comfortable in creating a video and is ready for a 3-minutes-video online fame. Furthermore, it might take up some more time then just writing a paper CV. Many other factors need to be taken into consideration. Not everyone has an own computer, camera or has the necessary skills to produce such kind of video.

21 Tips on how to create a great Video Resume

Don't replace your traditional CV with a video. You should still add your CV and a covering letter to your video. Tell the employer why they should hire you (work on your elevator pitch and make clear what makes you stand out from the crowd.) Be confident in delivering your pitch. Present yourself in a professional and enthusiastic way! Add something that you can't present in your resume (about your personality) and get the interviewer interested in your candidacy. At the end you can invite the employer to check out for more information on your application. Keep it simple, short and concise. The duration of 2-3 minutes would be appropriate, it should not exceed five minutes. Your goal should be to get the interviewer's attention in order to be invited for an interview. Be aware of your body language! Don't fold your arms across your chest or have your hands on your hips, etc. Make sure you dress appropriately for the job and the sector you are applying for. First impressions count. Pay attention at the environment. Make sure the interviewer will not be distracted by a messy background such as a cluttered desk or a dirty wall. Choose a tidy, presentable background. A bare wall would also be fine. Avoid any kind of noises, too. Test the lighting. Smile! Write a script, but try to sound conversational and listen to yourself. Ask yourself: Would you hire yourself? Don't speak too fast! If you want that your video resume will be watched by selected people only, make sure you password protect it. In this case choose a provider that offers this feature. Review some video resumes of other job applicants. Try to figure out what works well and what doesn't. Learn from them, it's a very effective way. Ask family and friends to give you constructive feedback. Work so hard until you are absolutely sure that you created the best video! Look at the camera! If you want to promote your video resume then include a link to your professional profile on various networking sites, such as LinkedIn etc. Make sure you create a good quality video. Quality might make or break the chance of getting an interview. Volumes count. Make sure your recording volume is not set higher than 75 % of maximum. Be natural and real. Thank the interviewer for considering your application!

A video might tell you more than thousand words, so please have a look at the following videos:

1. A very original sample of Video Resume (Benjamin Hampton). A must see in my opinion

2. Etu's Video Resume

Image Credits: Ezalis, laffy4k, Smith