Although it may seem so, video resumes aren’t a new concept. Sending potential employers a visual message was thought up in the 80’s, when VHS tapes were popular. The amount of valuable office space a stack of these would take up demonstrates their impracticality and why they failed to catch on. With the rise of personal DVD recorders and editing software designed for amateur film makers, video resumes have become plausible.

At their heart, video resumes are a way for a job seeker to catch the attention of hiring managers. In a competitive job market, sticking out from the crowd is important. Those who are considering making should look at it as form of personal marketing. The image on the screen is all the employer has to judge the applicant by. Because of this, it is extremely important to consider what impression one wants to give.

Above all else, honesty is important. Lying about skills or past times to impress an employer will only lead to let downs and job dissatisfaction. Instead, one should focus on the qualities they have that make them a better employee than other applicants. Take the time to write a script so that important information is not forgotten once the camera is rolling.

Personal image also plays a huge part in video resumes. Although this may not be an actual job interview, one should dress as it is. Appearing in casual attire may give employers the impression that this is how the applicant plans to dress in the office if they’re chosen.

One mistake that many video resume creators make is trying to tell the employer their life story. It’s best to remember that hiring managers potentially have a pile of these on their desk and don’t have time for sitcom. Keeping it simple and concise is always the best way to go.

Although no one expects a video resume to have Steven Spielberg worthy production quality, some thought should be given to the technical aspect of the recording. Many common mistakes involve poor editing, bad lighting, or shadows. Because of this one should review their video resume several times over to ensure that these blunders have been avoided. It’s better to take the time to make another recording than to be looked over because of such mistakes.

Also, remember to remove all distracting objects in the area that will be used for filming. The employer should be focused on what the applicant is saying, not on trying to figure out what band poster is on the wall behind them.

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