Create a Successful Video Resume
In the face of global economic malaise and high unemployment, job seekers can expect their competition to become fiercer. Want to improve the efficiency of your job hunt? Want more companies to hear about you? Consider making a video resume. Video resumes offer candidates an opportunity to showcase their qualifications and presentation skills online. Video resumes can include more than just you talking to the camera - they can also incorporate PowerPoint, adding key ideas as slides.
Contents
Steps
- Create a professional appearance.
- Dress properly, just as if you were going to an in-person interview.
- Look at the camera; don’t look around.
- Don’t speak too fast.
- Make sure there is no background noise, and film against a simple background that won't distract the viewer from your statement.
- Discuss why you would be a good employee and what you can do for the company once you are hired. Present your key attributes. Don't go into too much detail. Focus on your professional endeavors, not your personal ones.
- Edit the video. If the video is not perfect, start over, or edit it to include only good "takes" of the things you want to say.
- Produce the slides that go with your video.
- Use templates effectively. Since it is for your resume, choose a simple, businesslike style.
- Choose text and background colors that contrast clearly.
- Embed suitable photos, diagrams, or charts, but only if they add to your case.
- Limit the number of slides, and don't make the video too long. Remember that you may only have the attention of your audience for a few moments, so put the most important information first.
- Review your video and have others review it with you. Make sure the voice of the video you captured is loud enough and that any text or images you have added are clear.
- Produce your resume with PowerPoint and video editing software as appropriate. Convert the PowerPoint to video format so that you can upload the to video websites. Here are two ways for you to do this:
- Use a conversion tool to help you do this.
Tips
- Include a link to your video resume in your printed or online resume to promote it.
- Besides uploading your video resume to your own web site, blog and YouTube, there are also some other professional career networking sites, such as MyWorker, CareerBuilder and Jobster. They all have a section of your profile where you can include video so that potential employers can view it.
- Review others' video resumes and notice what looks good and what doesn't.
Warnings
- Remember that your video resume, like other things you post online, will be public. Choose carefully what personal, professional, and contact information you wish to give.
