A video resume can be a door opener with employers you are targeting, and, if you are not getting the response you expect, it can be an alternative method for moving forward a stalled interview process.
In preparing the video resume, it is important to have an introduction that is appropriate for your background and the position you are looking to secure. A closing for the recording is just as important.
Your introduction should be short and sweet, explaining who you are and the purpose of the video. Your closing should provide a very specific next step for the employer to follow in making direct contact with you. And always include your written resume with the recording.
Video resumes can’t be very long because the employers spend, statistically, 30 to 60 seconds screening applicants. Reduce your speech to four sections:
- Introduction
- Major accomplishments
- Education
- Closing
The written resume should provide the rest of the details and allow the employers to explore it at their pace.
The video resume also serves as a way to bring you closer to a company that is too far to meet with you personally in a first round of selection. It can accomplish this first steps and help the process move forward toward the eventual face-to-face meeting.
A video resume is not a replacement for the face-to-face meeting. More often than not, you will still have to perform live, in person, for the company. But it can help you in getting to the in-person interview when other techniques have failed.
