Can’t Write A Killer Resume? Make A Video!

Making yourself stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for a job is tougher than ever in today’s market; perhaps this is why there has also been an increase in the number of people who tell little white lies on their paper CV’s.  People will do absolutely anything to ensure that it is their CV which gets noticed at the selection process and if you are currently looking for a job then it is all too likely that the temptation to bulk out your CV has also crossed your mind once or twice.

If you are stuck applying for jobs and feeling like you’re getting nowhere then have you considered making a video?  Not only will this immediately make you seem different from the majority of the candidates but it can give you the vital opportunity to present yourself and your personality properly, as well as your list of relevant qualifications and experience.

Be Professional

No matter what type of job you are applying for, you should present yourself as though you are going for a formal interview.  This means dressing appropriately for the type of work you will be doing, making sure there is no clutter in the background of your shot and no unwanted interference or noise and speaking slowly and clearly. Professionalism also includes the quality of your speech, so preparing for the interview, write down your presentation and carefully check it.

Keep it Short

Don’t make your video any longer than it has to be; 3 minutes is the ideal length of time and should be plenty long enough for you to say your piece.  Be clear and concise in introducing yourself, giving your qualifications and saying why you think you would be perfect for the job role.  Maintain eye contact with the camera the entire time and don’t rush your words.  Try to sound as natural as possible, even if you have rehearsed what you are going to say and above all, don’t read from a script!  This will make you wooden, not to mention there is the temptation to glance away from the screen.

Edit

Make sure that the final version you send off is as clean as possible; make sure you edit the end when you perhaps move to turn the camera off and cut out any parts you feel are unnecessary.

Review

Watch your video back a number of times and ask trusted family and friends to watch it too and point out any ways which you could improve upon.  You need to make your video and your presentation of yourself the best it can be; it is likely that a potential employer will have made up their mind about you within the first 20 seconds of the video so you need to come across well and make sure you leave a lasting impact, for all the right reasons.

Upload

In the last 18 months there has been a real increase in the number of platforms which allow you to upload video CV’s; Meet the Real Me, Jobma and even LinkedIn offer the chance for candidates to upload their CV’s for consideration.  Utilise as many of these as possible to maximise your exposure to companies looking to hire.