The Pros of Video Making
First of all, a video resume is an addition and not a replacement of the paper resume. If you can follow these 5 tips to creating a video resume, a video resume can indeed be a golden ticket to landing an interview.
Because video is primarily a visual tool, it is a great way to let your personality shine through to a potential employer, providing them with a sense of who you are as an individual and whether you are suitable for the position.
Most importantly, you as the applicant can be creative in a video resume and choose how to convey your qualifications and strengths to the employer.
One concern that many job applicants have about the video resume is the flip side of the visual factor.
There is a reason why a photograph is not usually included on the paper resume, and that is because many people believe including a visual representation of yourself increases the chances of being discriminated against.
The Cons of Video Making
On the other hand, a poorly made or inappropriately-sent video resume can actually hurt your chances of being hired. Not all industries are accepting of an additional resume in video format so make sure you know your industry before sending one.
If you are applying to more conservative industries such as pharmacy, law, or construction, HR managers will probably not be as interested in taking a look at your video as opposed to more creative or media-oriented industries such as advertising, public relations, and journalism.
Do your research beforehand to find out if a video resume, in addition to your paper resume, is appropriate for you.
Consider the risks when submitting a video resume, because it is possible for discrimination to occur at anytime throughout the hiring process, from when the hiring manager is skimming through your paper resume to the actual face-to-face interview.
With a professional image and demeanor, using video is a great opportunity to leave a deep, positive impression on your potential employer that otherwise cannot be portrayed through a paper resume.
5 Tips for Creating a Video Resume
Are you looking to create a video resume? If you’re applying to jobs in a media-related or creative field, a well-made video resume is a great way for you to stand out from the crowd. Take a look at our Top 5 Tips below:
1. Keep it short
The optimal length of your video should be around 60 seconds long and definitely no longer than 2 minutes.
The employer’s time is very valuable; you don’t want your video to be too long or else you risk having all or part of the video being skipped.
The video resume and the paper resume are very different, so a video resume should not be a spoken repeat of your written resume.
2. Dress professionally
This is a no-brainer. As with interviewing, appearance is key to success. This includes filming with a neat, uncluttered background in your video.
Dress professionally so that employers will take you seriously. If you want to make a funny video resume, but want to be taken seriously, then you should watch the top funniest video resumes that we’ve selected below.
3. Prepare and practice a script
You want to give the maximum impression to employers in the shortest amount of time. This means you should not read your resume on video but instead prepare a short script – briefly introducing yourself and highlighting your past experience and accomplishments.
Since you will have already sent a copy of your written resume to employers, why waste their time if they can already read it themselves?
Your video resume is where you want to stand out visually, allowing you to reveal a solid impression of your background and skills.
You can achieve a confident and smooth delivery by practicing over and over until you get the best take of your presentation.
4. Edit your video
If you want your video to look polished and professional, you should use a video editing tool before uploading. This will ensure that your video doesn’t look like it was uploaded straightaway after recording.
An edited video shows that you actually spent time putting it together.
For example, you can add a title in the opening of your video with your name and contact info, as well as include any relevant pictures as a slideshow or supporting videos from references.
Or you can add subtitles to a video to make it easier for viewers to follow your message. Most tools provide a range of customization options including fonts, sizes, colors, animations, filters, etc.
Remember that this is your chance to really show your personality to the employer. Be creative but keep it professional!
5. Upload your video
Because a video is substantially larger in size than a document, it is recommended that you upload your video online. Oftentimes the file will be too large to send as an email attachment, and you do not want to take up the employer’s storage space.
There are several free video hosting websites available such as YouTube and Vimeo.
Top 5 Funniest Video Resumes of All Time
The world of the video resume is still quite murky. Nobody really knows how effective they are or if making a video resume will become a necessity in future. We scoured the interwebs in search of the funniest video resumes known to man.
By all means take inspiration if, and when, you decide to create your own video resume but in the meantime feel free to giggle, laugh out loud or just cringe at these top 5 funniest video resumes of all time.
5) Michael Cera – “I’m a Gemini and my favorite food is pizza”
Michael Cera, one of the stars of the movie Superbad, whips up this gem of a video resume.
We’re not sure if the movie offers have dried up or if Cera is just diversifying his career to learn new skills. Either way, what skill does he not already possess?
4) Chris Williams – “He’s amazing, he’s allergic to green scallions”
This short, but sweet, video resume gets straight to the point of letting the world know they were saved by the very man this video resume is about.
All hail, Chris Williams. Or should that be all hire, Chris Williams?
3) Michael Spafferty – “My career goal is to develop a new technology that turns all the cultures in the world into one”
This multiculturally aware Scientologist delivers his video resume just as well as he delivers babies. Will you be his friend?
2) Troy Green – “I wanna work … for you”
We’ve yet to pinpoint what it is about this video but its creepy undertones are lightened by the optimism of Troy – whose karate kicks are only one thrust away from employment.
Sometimes terrible editing and an uneven smile can win the hearts and minds of even the most cynical of employers.
1) David Pedersen – “The sandwich is good but it could use something”
If there’s one potential employee we’d recommend you go on a picnic with, it’s David Pedersen.
We hope these video resumes opened your eyes on how to make an entertaining video resume. If you’re still undecided and you’d rather stick with a traditional resume, then try our free resume maker.
