Do's and Don'ts: Video Resume

by Katrina Kibben, Social Media Marketing Manager, VisualCV

VisualCV is not a video resume but you can include video and much more (see all of the file types we accept here) to supplement the basic content of your traditional resume. So, for those members who would like to add a video to their VisualCV, I wanted to cover some general do’s and don’ts.

Do look professional. Remember, this is the hiring manager’s first impression of you and you want it to be perfect. Try to create a professional background for your video, like an office, dress appropriately, and speak eloquently.

Don’t try to do the presentation unrehearsed. You don’t want your video to become an office joke; you want it to be your ticket to an interview. Write an outline and practice your speech in front of the mirror a few times before recording.

Do keep it short- think about the fact that hiring managers are looking at hundreds of pieces of paper every day. What are you going to show them in your video that is going to get their attention and keep it?   One way is to answer questions you anticipate they’ll ask in your first you interview. See some good examples from Ludo Van Vooren and Judith Sikora.

Don’t use a video resume as a standalone. A video resume can’t take the place of the traditional resume entirely.  I think of video in a resume as the catch line and the resume as the whole dialogue. I could be proven wrong but it hasn’t happened yet.

Do include video references from coworkers or managers to supplement the video in your VisualCV resume (See a tip from the WSJ on video references). Including references provides employers a better picture of who you are and what you’ll bring to the company. Plus it saves time for both of you after the first interview. What better way to make a great impression on the hiring manager than to save them time and money?

So what are the dos and don’ts you recommend for video in resumes? Louise Kursmark offers her tips in The Insider’s Guide to VisualCV. Let us know your ideas!

Comments

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This is a wonderful post. It is important to stay positive and I like how this post reinforces that!