How To Make A Video Resume

The job market is tough to crack. With so many candidates, it can feel hard to stand out. This is why a well-structured resume and a powerful cover letter are so important.

Not only do they show a hiring manager why you have the skills and experience necessary for the job, but they also show who you are as a person. A cover letter is an especially great place to highlight your story.

However, you may feel that is not enough. Depending on your personality or the industry you want to work in, an opportunity to show your abilities visually can help you stand out.

A potential employer may be more interested if they can see the person they want to hire. If you want a little extra help, consider making a video resume.

What Is a Video Resume?

A video resume is a video where you explain and show what makes you a good candidate. You can send it to an employer as part of the application process.

You could also upload the video to the internet as part of a public online portfolio. The video will describe who you are, what you are looking for, and what relevant skills or experiences you have that make you qualified.

A video resume is a supplement to a resume; it does not replace the resume. A video resume is more similar to a cover letter in that it offers you a chance to talk about yourself through a different medium.

Video resumes are good because their visual content can be more conducive for certain people and industries. As a candidate, you might find that your strengths lie in your creative abilities or else are better seen visually.

For example, if you want a job in video marketing, then a video resume will be a chance to use editing and marketing skills. Or you could be a teacher who wants to show how you perform in a classroom setting and what your teaching style looks like.

Employers can also benefit from video resumes. An employer of certain industries may want to see what skills you have to offer, or they might prefer to put a face to the name when they filter out candidates.

Imagine how a sales consulting firm may want to see what kind of presence you can bring to a room and if you would make a good impression on clients.

A video resume should be short, between 30 seconds to two minutes long. The video will not explain everything about you, nor should you simply read off of your resume.

A video resume highlights a specific aspect about you that is relevant to the job you are pursuing. This could be a skill, an experience, or a story about you that shows why you are a great candidate.

Video resumes need to be geared towards their audience. This means you have to keep the content appropriate and relevant. Treat the video as you would in a job interview, which means dress properly, speak professionally, and give the impression that you are reliable.

This does not mean you must be totally stiff. Be conversational and approachable and, if you’re willing, have a sense of humor and fun.

Why Send a Video Resume? How Can It Help?

Video resumes are content, and content is king in the digital world. A video resume makes all the difference because it offers you a different platform to be unique and prove your qualifications.

With this supplemental content, you give yourself another tool in the application process. This is especially helpful if you are pursuing a creative or hands-on profession.

Video resumes obviously provide visual qualities that are lost in a resume or cover letter. Your presentation abilities, both in how you speak and how you organize your presentation, say just as much, if not more, about you as the content you discuss.

Body language and visual learning are big factors in communication, and in the workplace, they can make all the difference.

Visuals are processed much faster than text, and they leave longer impressions. Like the phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words,” a video resume can say a lot more in less time.

So if you do the video right, you can get your point across efficiently, and it will stick in the mind of potential employers more effectively.

Should You Create a Video Resume?

Now, just because you can do something doesn’t always mean you should. Video resumes are no exceptions. There are times when it is appropriate and times when it may not be worth the effort. There may even be times when it could do more harm than good.

That being said, if we focus on when you should create a video resume, we will see that it is an extremely helpful addition.

A good place to start is to ask yourself some questions and see if the answer becomes apparent. The questions you should ask are:

• Is it relevant to my field? Here you need to consider if a video resume would show the skills required for the job. Any sort of visually creative field can benefit from a video resume.

  As an artist or entertainer, you may want to provide a quick sample of your abilities and accomplishments. This is also true for carpenters and other product-making professionals.

  Other client-facing professions also can benefit from a video resume. If your job focuses on people, then you want to show how you would perform in the role with a quick glimpse of your presentation skills.

• Does the application ask for one? This is crucial. Obviously, if an application asks, or even suggests, a video resume, then you should submit one. You want to show you can follow directions.

  Besides, with all the other benefits, you can be sure that a video resume will further increase your chances.

• Will it appropriately highlight my personality? You must be honest with yourself with this question. Some employers may not have the time to watch a video, or a poorly-done video can hurt your chances.

  However, if you truly feel that your personality is a soft skill crucial to your success, a video resume gives you a chance to show it off.

If you can answer these questions confidently, then you should proceed with sending a video resume.

Tips on How to Make Video Resume

You should put time and effort into your video resume. Follow these tips to make sure your finished product reflects positively on you:

• Prepare a script. You do not want to talk off the top of your head. Much like a resume, a video resume is a well-prepared document. You should have an idea of what you want to say ahead of time.

  That being said, do not just read off the script. Write and rehearse in such a way that you can be flexible and natural in your performance.

• Prepare a good setting. If you are speaking directly to the camera, make sure your background is devoid of all distractions. You want your audience to focus on you.

  If your video contains footage of you at work or other clips, make sure they are appropriate and not distracting from your message.

• Know your audience. Know who you are speaking to and gear the tone of your video towards them.

  For example, a video resume for a job in youth development should be fun and upbeat, but a sales associate’s video resume may be more straight to the point and businesslike.

• Use the right equipment. Now you don’t need professional quality movie equipment. In fact, most smartphone cameras are high enough quality.

  However, a tripod and a good microphone can give you an advantage. You want your camera steady, and you want to be heard.

• Be brief. The best video resumes are between 30 seconds to two minutes long. A video resume needs to be mindful of the audience’s time. Get your point across in an interesting manner.

  The video resume is not a video portfolio and will not show everything you can do; it only acts as an introduction.

• Write the perfect story about yourself. Show people what you can do and who you are to engage them. To maximize your short time, focus on a specific aspect about yourself you want to share.

  Present it as a story: give it a beginning, a middle, and an end and make sure your message is relevant.

• Be professional. This should go without saying. Speak and dress in a professional manner. Remember this video represents you, so represent yourself in the best possible light.

• End on a high note. Give your prospective employer a call to action. Ask them to view your resume and your online job profiles or portfolios to further understand your potential.

• Use editing to make it interesting. With simple software, you can combine different footage and audio to tighten your performance. You do not need to speak all in one go. Multiple edits can help cut down on unnecessary time-lapses and engage your audience.

• Record several takes. This way, you can use the best footage from the best takes to make the best video possible. Plus, the more takes you do, the more comfortable you will get with your message.

• Get feedback. It is crucial that you get feedback before you send it as your video resume. Ask friends, family, and professional mentors for their thoughts. Their outside perspective may pick up on things you missed.

What to Avoid in a Video Resume

With so much to keep in mind, do not slip and do any of the following:

• Don’t make a video resume if you are not comfortable with making videos. This is huge. If you do not feel like you can put together a high-quality video, your best bet is to not submit one. A poorly-made video resume will come across as unprofessional.

• Inappropriate behavior. Avoid language and actions that you would not be OK with permanently available on the internet. Anything you make and upload to the internet can be shared by anyone.

• Speaking straight from the script. You do not want to sound like a robot. Take your script and read from it in such a way that sounds natural.

  If it helps, write out bullet points or phrases that you know you need to say and allow yourself to flow between them naturally.

• Replacing a resume with a video resume. A video resume is not a resume. Just because you submitted a video resume does not mean you are free from any of the other work in the application process.

Final Thoughts

A video resume is a helpful supplement in the job application process as long as your prospective employer will be interested in your video and the quality of your video is professional.

This process is not for everyone, but if a video resume sounds right for you, then you should pursue it with the utmost confidence.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Expert

Don Pippin, MHRM, CPRW, CDCS

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.