A video resume, also known as a visume, helps create a visual impact on recruiters. If you know Dubsmash, then this is not much different. Only he’d be recording his own script instead of lip-syncing to someone else’s. It is a platform for job seekers to convince recruiters to consider them. Reduces cost and time for stakeholders involved in the initial selection process.
Studies indicate that it takes just 6 seconds for recruiters to scan a resume and give you the proper invoice. Now, if you can grab their attention for 30 seconds through a video, then that’s something. But the plan can always backfire if the video resume isn’t good enough. So how do you do it?
1. Don’t recite your text summary. Add something you haven’t written yet. It could be project work that showcases your technical skills or your management capabilities. You can make it sound serious or funny. At the end of the day, it must be why the recruiter should consider you.
2. Make a script. But be brief. It would be better to be crisp and explosive in less than 30 seconds.
3. Be sure to dress appropriately for business transactions.
4. Make sure the room you shoot in is clean, well lit, and quiet.
5. The camera focus should be on your half profile. Neither just your face nor your entire frame would make a good image.
6. Make a script but don’t read it aloud. Your eye contact should always be with the camera. Avoid even referring to the script.
7. Body language makes a difference. Too laid back and you’d come across as someone with an attitude problem. Too stiff, you’re not interviewing for the army.
8. Don’t be too fast or too slow. Keep the pace right and make sure the delivery flows smoothly.
9. Acknowledge positive reviews from family and friends for the costume and edit the video accordingly.
10. Finally, take the session again until you think it’s okay. Video and audio clarity is important.
Of course, there is video editing software that allows you to add presentations and slides, along with audio files for the background. But you can also make it as simple as using your smartphone camera.
You may ask if video resumes can eliminate the need for traditional ones. Well, no. But it is an efficient additional tool. There may be very few candidates armed with costumes and that makes it even better! If something can help you get noticed, it’s definitely worth a try. You’re just adding a flavor of your personality to meaty text resumes.
On the other hand, when even photos are banned on resumes to handle discrimination, many are concerned about uploading a video resume. Along those lines, don’t you think that bias can occur during any stage of the interview process? And companies around the world have strict policies on this front. So it’s probably not worth partnering with a narrow-minded company.
So, stop stalling and prepare your video resumes to speed up your selection process! Thinking where to start? Download rekroot, an advanced mobile recruiting app. Upload your video resume and interview for interested companies. In any moment, in any place.