Why a video resume is a must for success in business globally, and the best strategies to create your own video resume for a professional effect.
So are you using a video resume yet? If not why not? With 91% of people owning a mobile phone [Pew Research], and the latest mobile technology providing HD quality videos recording software, there is no longer any excuse not to be using videos in your business.
Yes, you might be a little scared of being awkward in front of a camera, and that’s natural. Anything we’re unfamiliar with can seem uncomfortable at first. But the key is to practice, practice, practice your first one until you have it down pat. And you’ll find that once you get started, you will relax more and more.
A video resume is an extension of a written one. It is an opportunity to put your best foot forward and dazzle your potential employers with your skills, work experience, and skills. They serve as a supplement and not a replacement to print resumes. Companies rarely ask for video resumes, but they can improve your overall standings with your employers if you have them at hand.
Starting off Right – What Should Be in a Video Resume
Whether video or audio, resumes should be succinct, highlight your qualifications, experience, job skills, and market your potential employers. Here are a few rules that will keep you on track while you work.
Research Templates and Copy Professionals
As exciting as it can be to be a pioneer in your field, you must recognize the value of borrowing from the experiences of those who came before. Do some research, read about resume and CV templates, and emulate what experts are doing. That means you will have to:
· Focus on keywords
· Highlighting your contact information
· Making your post
· Listing your honors, etc.
Know What to Keep and Leave Out
Not every job experience or certification would be relevant to the job at hand, and you should understand that it’s okay to leave them out. Unlike curriculum vitae which are several pages long, resumes are typically one-pagers. There is very little room to establish yourself as a professional and sell yourself. You can always include a link to your portfolio website or main website and tell them more about yourself.
Start with a Bang
The first line of your resume is your chance to impress your employers, so think carefully of what you lead with. Most professionals recommend starting with your most relevant or latest work experience.
How to Make a Video Resume
By now, you should have some idea of how resumes work. Video resumes are very much like print ones, and all knowledge you have more or less transfers over, with subtle changes here and there.
Video resumes are more liberating in that you can properly present yourself and scary because they are so easy to mess up. There are two possible routes you can take when approaching video resumes. You could consider bringing a professional on board or learn to do everything yourself.
Consider Hiring a Professional
Consider hiring a videographer or filmmaker to help you create your resume video, presentation, or video CV. While it may be true that you might be more in tune with the job hiring requirements of your niche, the videographer will help you tell your story in a better way.
They will take care of edits, composition, music, lighting, background, and all you have to do is script and present the resume. They are your best bet of getting that professional, polished look if you are unfamiliar with filmmaking.
Learning How to Make a Video Resume
Creating video resumes from start to finish can be fairly straightforward if you follow these simple tips.
Be professional: Look and sound professional when you are filming. Think of the video resume as an interview of sorts and try to maintain a professional demeanor while you present yourself. You can tell jokes, but nothing inappropriate, like using slang.
Have a script: You shouldn’t go in without an assembled script. The script should resemble a standard resume but fitted for a voice interview. Highlight your experience, showcase your talent, skills and talk about your benefits and goals. And try to be natural and expressive. Shoot multiple takes, and don’t stop until you feel you have what you are looking for.
Film in the right background with good equipment: You should film your video resume with a high-quality camera in an environment with perfect lighting and little ambient noise. It will help your video resume come across as professional, dependable, and knowledgeable. If you can achieve this trifecta, you can settle for a slightly noisy background. There are several resources on the internet that could teach you how to enhance audio and remove ambient noises from audio files.
You should also film in an environment that is remotely connected to your field or occupation. For example, a programmer should film in their home office, with their workstation behind them.
Highlight your skills: You can sneak in one or two-second shots of you showcasing your skills and talent. It could go a long way to add more credibility to your video curriculum vitae or resume and push your application further.
Keep it brief: Your video should be about 30-90 seconds long. Anything longer will be considered excessive.
Learn from professionals in your field: Ask your professional friends for video resume tips, samples, and advice. If you don’t have any professional friends, search for resumes for your niche online. Not all videos will be relevant to you, but they could teach you one or two things that will help you stand out during the interview process.
Show the finished work to a friend or family member: Get some feedback from your friends and family before you submit your resume. They can help you spot mistakes you might have missed and edit suggestions that could further enhance your resume.
Things to Avoid When Making a Video Resume
Don’t rush making a video resume: Creating a great-looking video resume takes time. Don’t muddle through the entire process and throw a short video together. Get well ahead of the deadline and work until you find something you are satisfied with.
This often means gathering tons of footage and testing in different environments. All the knowledge you acquired will help you later on in case you need to make another video resume.
Don’t think of it as a replacement for your print or traditional resume: Most employers don’t ask for video resumes, and they evaluate you based on your experience and qualifications. Don’t neglect your physical resume and brush up on it from time to time. They are easier to update than video resumes, and you will use them more frequently.
Difference between Video Curriculum Vitae and Resume
There are no real differences. Video curriculum vitae are typically requested by more bureaucratic companies and organizations, while SMB or conglomerate could ask for a video resume. Curriculum vitae videos are also longer than resumes
Conclusion
After reading through the post, you should have some idea of how to make a video resume. If you excel at writing a print resume, you won’t struggle too much with a recorded one. Pooling knowledge from experienced professionals in your field is important, and you should get feedback from them and family members when you can.
You should hire an experienced videographer to make your resume if you are new to videography and filmmaking. Their decades of experience and practical knowledge will go into enhancing the final result.