In today’s highly competitive job market, creating the right video resume to accompany your traditional CV can make you stand out from the crowd. The wrong one, though, can make you a laughingstock.
Getting it right can be pretty tough. If you’re considering going down the video resume route, we’ve got some advice for you from pros in the know, as well as real-life examples of great attempts from clued-in job hunters.
Take a look at our five must-read tips for creating a video resume and please let us know which examples you like (as well as any tips you’d like to share) in the comments below.
1. Make Sure It’s Appropriate
Don’t just create a video resume because you can, create one because it’s relevant to the job you want to do.
If you’re applying for a role in the online, media, social or creative professions, then it’s more likely a decent video resume will have the desired effect, i.e., getting you invited for an interview.
Don’t send a video resume to a more traditional type of company that won’t “get it.” You might do your chances more harm than good.
Graeme Anthony, from the example above, is a public relations executive. His cleverly thought out online content adds an extra wow factor to his already outstanding experience.
2. Don’t Just Read Out Your Resume
The whole point of a video presentation is to offer a potential employer greater insight into you than a traditional resume can, so just reading aloud the contents of your CV is a waste of everyone’s time.
Use the video to help the employer get a sense of not just what you have achieved, but what you are capable of achieving in the future.
“Tell them why you would be the right person to hire and what you can do for them,” says Mario Gedicke, account manager at Mayomann.com, a video employment platform.
You can, however, highlight particularly relevant info from your resume. “Focus on your experience and skill set (and possible education/training) especially relevant to the position,” advises Tyler Redford, CEO of resumebook.tv, an online resume management system.
And if it’s appropriate and relevant to the job (as in the example above), then don’t be afraid to talk about your passions.
3. Keep it Short
“Keep your video resume short,” says Gedicke, who advises that a one-minute mark is ideal. Redford agrees that a video resume should be “short and sweet.” He suggests staying within two minutes.
“Keep in mind that recruiters would likely want to use the video resume as an initial filter for applicants,” Redford says. “However, recruiters do not typically want to use the video resume in lieu of a real, in-person interview.”
Think of your video resume as your own personal teaser trailer. In the example above, the clip is less than one minute and 20 seconds in length, while the extra time is made up of a bloopers reel accompanied with credits, a clever way to show off your personality (and that you don’t take yourself too seriously).
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Be Creative
If you’re opting for a video resume, then go the whole hog and make it spectacular. Be creative, whether that’s with the concept of your pitch, use of humor, clever production values or brilliant editing.
However, stay classy. “Be creative, but professional. Do not deviate too much from the demeanor you would have in the workplace,” says Redford. Gedicke suggests this should extend to your wardrobe too: “Dress professionally, just as if you are going to an in-person interview.”
In the video above, James Corne creates a spoof AA-style confession, but maintains a certain veneer and dresses like he was headed to the office. This demonstrates creativity and humor whilst showing him to be a professional person.
5. Make Sure It Passes the Share Test
As with all online life, don’t put content out there that you wouldn’t be prepared to see go viral. It’s unlikely your video resume will become an overnight Internet sensation, but imagining that scenario is a good test to make sure you could cope if it did.
Imagine your friends and family watching the clip. If the thought of that embarrasses you, then don’t submit it.
Digital Marketing Job Listings
Every week we put out a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we post a huge range of job listings, we’ve selected some of the top digital marketing opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
- Head of Marketing at BWebPT in Phoenix, AZ.
- Director of Social Media Strategy at Likeable Media in Boston, MA.
- Marketing Manager at VEVO in Santa Monica, CA.
- Digital Marketing Manager at Elsevier in Burlington, MA.
- Interactive Strategist at NAS Recruitment Communications in Cleveland, OH.
More Related Resources from Mashable
– 4 Digital Alternatives to the Traditional Resume
– Top 9 Job Sites to Bookmark for Your Career Search
– 19 Resources to Help You Land a Job in 2011
– 5 Ways to Get a Job Through YouTube
– 5 Tips for Aspiring Social Media Marketers
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, oleg66
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