Practice makes perfect, and this is doubly true when working on your video resume. On paper you can’t show off your communication skills, drive or personality. Video allows you to show yourself in three-dimensions, instead of the flat view of your candidacy the traditional paper resume provides. If your video looks like you only put in two minutes of preparation, however, it’ll be doing more harm than good. As with all important things in life, being prepared is the key to impressing hiring managers and recruiters.
In part one of our series we talked about scripting, in part two we discussed using a mirror, and in part three you took your video resume for a test drive. As the last part in our series about practicing your video resume to get the best results, we’ll talk about finding an audience.
Your video will eventually have an audience when it’s played by hiring managers or recruiters at the company of your dreams. Before it gets this far, make sure it’s a hit closer to home. Get a group of trusted friends and family members to view your video resume.
The Feedback Loop
In the world of television, there is a substantial process new shows go through before they ever air on your small screen. The process for a television show to go from an idea to a bona fide watercooler hit is actually very similar to the stages of practicing your video resume. First a creator must come up with a script (scripting), then actors read for their parts (mirror), and finally the show films what is called a pilot episode (test drive). Like your video resume, the pilot is meant to convince the networks to pick up (hire) the show on their schedules.
No matter how well-done the pilot, the networks don’t just trust their own judgement. They utilize market research or testing to see what the average viewer will think of the new show. You might not be recording the next NBC hit on your webcam, but if you ever want to be the newest superstar employee it might pay to take a page out of the network television playbook.
Get together people whose opinions you trust. We all know it’s hard to see our own failings. You’ve worked hard on your video resume and practiced your lines and mannerisms over and over. Looking at the finished product, you can’t imagine how you could make it any better. This is the problem! There are always ways to improve, but you’re too close to your video resume to see it.
Getting honest outside opinions will help you hone in on areas you still need to improve upon. You must stress to your “market research” group the need to be completely honest with you. It doesn’t help if your friends or family members just tell you what you want to hear.
It might be hard to hear criticisms, especially about something you’ve worked so hard on, but it will make your video resume better as an end result. You might still have some nervous ticks or maybe the dreaded “um” worked its way back into your speech. It’s always good to have a fresh pair of eyes evaluating your work. Whatever your video resume problems are, it’s better to know about them before you hit submit.
Once you’ve listened to all the comments and criticisms, it’s time to record the final version of your video resume. It might seem like a long process, but by practicing, testing out, and getting feedback you’re making sure you’ll have the best version possible to submit. When hiring managers or recruiters see your video resume, they’ll be impressed by your poise, confidence, and clearly stated qualifications. When you nab your dream job you can thank your old friend preparation.
Have you used feedback before submitting your video resume? Share with us!
Image Courtesy of CDN.Netrafic.
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