Here is a guest post from Heather Johnson, a freelance writer. I am doing this as an experiment. As a disclaimer, no money exchanged hands in either direction. I think she wrote a useful piece that relates to aspects of marketing on the new web and I am happy to provide the exposure. It is a win-win from my perspective and I hope you do, also. I learned something. Here is what she wrote and you can find out more about her at the end of this post.
In a bid to outshine fierce competitors, many young professionals are turning to video resumes in order to stand out from the crowd. This form of self-marketing could make or break a career, however. Just ask Yale graduate Aleksey Vayner, whose over-indulgent video resume made him an instant meme and the laughing stock of the business world.
Despite cautionary tales such as Vayner's, many college graduates are embracing the video resume. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as some hiring managers are a bit intrigued. Those entering a field in marketing, art or creative design can certainly display their charisma and creativity with a video resume.
But what if you aren't necessarily photogenic or extroverted? What if your video is embarrassingly low tech? This could ruin your chances before you ever get in the door for an interview. Not only could it cost you the job, the video could be passed around and make you a YouTube "celebrity" like Vayner.
If you feel you are entering a field where a video resume is appropriate, the following tips should help your production:
- Have a friend operate the camera. Though you don't need "action" shots, you will want someone to turn the camera on and off. Unless you have a remote in your hand, doing this yourself will look unprofessional.
- Forget about using your bargain camcorder or (even worse) your Webcam. If you don't have access to a decent camera, rent one.
- Use an adequate amount of lighting.
- Make sure your voice is clearly audible.
- Film the resume in an appropriate setting. Your messy bedroom is not a great filming location.
- Exude confidence without being self-indulgent or cocky. Using a video resume is pretty brazen in itself.
- Cover pertinent facts in the resume. Don't dawdle and don't add unnecessary information.
- Keep your resume brief enough to retain a person's attention.
- Consider hiring a professional to edit the finished product.
As video resumes grow in popularity, companies may have no choice but to accept them as part of the screening process. There are even video hosting sites dedicated solely to resumes, such as RecruiTV. Sending a hiring manager a link to your online resume could be the best route to take, as it saves them the trouble of physically playing a DVD. If you do make a bold move, such as filming a resume, then you will want to make the process as easy for your potential employers as possible.
Heather P. Johnson is a freelance writer, as well as a contributor for Credit Card Lowdown, a site for finding credit card reviews. Heather invites your comments and freelancing job opportunities at her email address: heatherjohnson2323@gmail.com.
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