Video resumes were invented for aspiring journalists. OK, so I don’t have a cold hard fact supporting that bold proclamation, but broadcast journalists have been, in essence, creating video resumes for years. So with the rise in video technology, video interview platforms and the advent of video resumes, it’s about time their print-based counterparts got in the game and utilized video in their job search as well.
Everyone, journalists or not, knows the world of journalism is changing. I’m not going to harp on whether print journalism is dead because it’s not so much the death of print journalism but the changing of the field. Many journalism schools are now teaching convergence journalism as more and more traditional news sources are requiring applicants to have multimedia skills. Job seekers looking to go into journalism need to know how to utilize video in their job search.
So what better way to highlight your multimedia strengths than shooting, starring in, producing and editing your own video resume? Within the video resume you can highlight your writing accomplishments, and if you are good with editing software, add screen grabs of your writing clips. Many news outlets will ask for writing samples— giving you the chance to showcase your writing skills. Your resume, however, is all about your accomplishments so why not demonstrate your multimedia skills and show off your personality with a video resume?
Journalism is also more than just great writing. Look at the video resume as an opportunity to showcase your top-notch interview skills. Show the hiring manager the comfort you have on camera and let your personality shine through. Take the opportunity to show a potential employer how you might interview someone by being creative and setting up your video resume as a mock interview. You only have a short amount of time though, so hit the important parts only.
Journalists in the midst of their job search should really explore their options in an attempt to be bold and get recognized. There are so many candidates in the journalism job search that it is important to distinguish yourself. Video resumes are still a new technology and may be the answer to getting your name out there and standing out from the pack.
Do you send employers a video resume? What kind of feedback have you gotten from it? Share with us in the comments section below!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by planeta
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