Have you thought about using videos in your job search? If you haven’t, there may be a few things holding you back. Despite the encouragement by career experts and social media specialists, it seems job seekers have been slow to add video to their arsenal of ways to promote themselves and land their next job.
With the current Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing, more and more jobs and job interviews are being conducted remotely. So many people are at home and online, so this is the perfect time to create that video for your job search you have been thinking about.
You’ll have a leg up over candidates who are NOT using video.
Reasons to Include Videos in a Job Search
You know how when you email or text it is hard to convey your feelings or nuances in the meaning of what you are saying? We have all experienced a misunderstanding in texting due to context or misinterpretation. Using emojis can help, but it only goes so far. Since using emojis is inappropriate and unprofessional in a resume or cover letter, a video can go a long way in helping you express exactly what you want.
- Stand out from candidates who aren’t using video
- Opportunity to display your personality and professionalism
- Chance to talk about what really matters to you in a new job and culture
- Display your passion for the industry you are seeking a new career in
- Videos posted online rank higher in Google, LinkedIn and other search engines than plain content
Some things to keep in mind
Short and Focused. A video resume is typically used to supplement your professional paper resume. It should be short and focused on introducing yourself and highlighting your skills and experience. It is NOT for just reading your resume into the camera.
Email it. Besides posting it on your LinkedIn Profile or other platforms, you can email it to a hiring manager with your resume or before a scheduled interview.
Targeted. Keep in mind that a video resume should be treated like a paper resume in the fact that it can also be targeted and specific to a particular job. You may need to created several videos depending on how wide you are casting your net.
Professional. You don’t have to hire a professional videographer to create videos for your job search. However, they should be professional looking and so should you. When done improperly it could hinder your job search and quite possibly embarrass you. If you are really uncomfortable being in front of the camera it will show. Practicing a lot can really help.
Labeling Yourself as a “Job Seeker.” If you are conducting your job search covertly and don’t want your current employer to know, a video may put yourself out there before you are ready. Once you put a video on the web or social media platforms, it can be hard to take them down.
However, if you do feel comfortable (and you can practice) and you follow these guidelines, using video to help with your job search will make you stand out and get noticed.
What to Include Job Search Videos
Treat this video like a job interview. Your clothing, demeanor, body language, and subject matter should be professional. Like we mentioned earlier, your resume video should not be boring and just a read through of your resume. It should be interesting and engaging. VYond, an online animation software platform, offers these tips on how to make a great video resume:
- Tell a story. A video resume is a great way to showcase something from your background that’s sure to impress the hiring manager, especially if you tell it in the form of a story. If you’re having trouble deciding what to talk about, write an outline detailing your background and think about how your experience is connected. What have you learned in your past that would make you a great fit for this new position?
- Be brief. Limit your video resume to no longer than two minutes — anything longer than that is asking too much of the hiring manager. 60-90 seconds is ideal. Read your script out loud, or better yet, record yourself reading the script, and then play back the recording. Hearing the words makes it easier to home in on the most relevant and interesting bits of your background.
- Be specific. For a truly compelling video resume, create a custom video for each job you apply to. You’ll be able to point out how your background makes you a perfect fit for that specific job, and you can even work in a line or two about why you want to join the company. For instance, if a job posting says they want someone with project management experience, talk about a project you managed.
- Add a call-to-action. End the video with a call-to-action, a sentence or two that spells out the next step and motivates viewers to take it. For example, you might ask the hiring manager to visit your LinkedIn profile to see the rest of your employment history. A good call-to-action makes all the difference between a video that gets results and one that does nothing more than entertain the hiring manager.
Check out their full article and see examples of video resumes here: Video Resume Tips to Help You Land the Job
We’d love to see the videos you make for your job search. Please share them with us in the comments or on any of our social media platforms. Good luck, and we are here for you.
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