Video resumes are all the rage today. Many job seekers are using this new form of technology in order to better sell themselves to potential employers. If you are considering creating your own video resume, there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to make a lasting impression on potential employers:
1. Ready, set, action!
In the filming industry, there is a reason you will hear the phrase, “Ready, set, action!” In any video, there should be some type of action from the people. Likewise, in your video resume, you should have action!
Don’t simply video yourself standing in one spot, repeating your work history or reading from your resume. BORING! This will surely put any potential employers to sleep.
Instead, take some shots of yourself at work. If your current job is inside sales, discretely place a camera in your cubical at work, filming yourself in action. Take video shots of yourself cold calling potential customers, smiling and working your sales magic on the phone, setting up appointments, and following up with existing customers.
I guarantee that any potential employer would much rather view you actually doing what you say you can do, versus telling them what you can do.
2. Dress to impress
As with any interview or resume, a video resume should be professional. This is your time to shine and make a first impression with a potential employer. Even if you are conducting the filming in your own house, you still need to dress for success.
Make sure you wear your best professional attire. Even if you only plan to film from your waist up, still plan on wearing your best slacks or skirt, and even your best shoes. This will not only help you appear more professional, but it will also help you to FEEL professional, giving you added confidence during the video.
3. K.I.S.S.
As always, remember to Keep It Simple Stupid! Set a time limit to your video resume. Remember that your potential employer will only be allowing a certain amount of time for you to express why they should hire you. With hundreds of resumes flooding their inbox each day, it is impossible to allow 5 or 10 minutes for each candidate. There is no set guideline for how long your video resume should be, but try to keep it under 1 minute. This way, you increase the potential of having your entire video resume viewed by potential employers.
Keep your video resume brief and to the point.
What has your experience been with video resumes? Please share your tips and experiences below.
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