How to Film a Video Resume

Your resume is all about presenting yourself in the best possible light. And in this modern age, you have plenty of options to do so.

A good one, which is not typically used, is a video resume. It is a great way to stand out to your potential employers, make the application more personal, and present yourself in a new way.

A video resume not only catches the hiring manager’s attention but is also a great way to present yourself in a way that is easily perceptible. Hiring managers can receive hundreds of resumes about a job position, but a video resume can really make them spend some more time on your application.

That being said, a video resume can also backfire, if it is not done right. If you want to make the best out of it, you should make it look professional and grab the hiring manager’s attention.

And that’s what we are here for. In this article, we are going to explore the following questions:

• What is a video resume?
• Should you create a video resume?
• How to create a video resume?

And we are going to leave you off with some great tips and tricks to get you started. If you are ready to make your resume stand out in front of the crowd, let’s dive in.

What is a video resume?

Before we move on, we need to understand what a video resume is. A video resume is a small video clip that is aimed to show off who you are.

Just like a traditional resume, it should include the basics - your education, work experience and skills. But it does more than that. What it should do is actually show off your character and who you really are to the hiring manager.

It is a great way to show that your personality is a good fit for the company. But make no mistake, video resume should not be a replacement for traditional ones.

Make sure you include your traditional resume and a cover letter, if needed, and use your video resume as some extra strength to your application. Usually, a video resume’s length is between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

That is because you wouldn’t want to bore your audience. As your audience is the hiring manager, you would want to keep their attention all the way through. And just like resumes are kept to one-pagers, as the hiring manager spends an average of 7 seconds on each, your video resume should not be too long either.

Should you create a video resume?

Now you know what a video resume is. But how to figure out if you really need one?

First, you need to consider the number of traditional resumes hiring managers for each and every job position. The number is huge.

That is the reason why hiring managers spend an average of 7 seconds on a resume. It is physically impossible for them to afford any more time until they cut that stack of papers in half.

A video resume can be a nice change of scene for them. It is a much more relaxing way to understand who you are and do so at a much better level.

As more and more interviews are moving to online platforms, where a camera is what makes the connection, a video resume might come in even handier. It can show the hiring manager who you are, let them hear your voice, and learn a bit about your character.

In some sense, it is like the first step of an interview. And that can work greatly in your favor. Furthermore, depending on what position you are applying for, a video resume can show off some great skills you have.

Acting, teaching, and presenting are all widely valuable skills that can all be seen on a video resume. Not only that, but there would be obvious proof of those skills.

But if you decide to go for a video resume, there are quite a few factors to be careful about.

You need to be sure your script is well written, your camera and microphone are working correctly, the background of the video is appropriate, and you also need to put some effort in putting your video together.

But if done right, your video resume is absolutely worth it.

How to create a video resume?

Now you understand all the pros and cons of a video resume. If you are still up for it, it is time to go through the most important step.

Creating a video resume requires some extra effort, but it can be worth it if done right.

And that’s what we are here for. There are several steps that you need to follow, and we are going to go through them one by one.

Write a script

One of the most critical things about a video resume is that you should not just wing it. You need to be natural, but you still need a script.

It can be just a basic bullet list or a whole speech that you memorize. It doesn’t matter which one you choose.

Writing a script is also essential because that’s when you start visualizing what your video resume would be. It is the time when you add great new points and remove those which can backfire.

Keep in mind that your video resume is not necessarily just a single shot of you talking, it can also be dynamic.

You can switch to other shots where you show off some skills, while you keep talking in the background, it’s all about the edit later on.

For now, you need to figure out what you want to share with your potential employer on your video resume.

Prepare a filming space

Whether you are filming yourself sitting in one place, or you have decided to make your video resume more dynamic, you need a proper filming space.

You need to make sure that there are no annoying background noises, so make sure you pick a quiet place. What is visible behind you is even more important. Make sure that you are the focus of your video.

If the hiring manager gets distracted by something in the background, you might lose your audience and your chances of getting an interview.

When choosing a filming location, it is best to search for a room with lots of natural light and windows. You would want the hiring manager to see you clearly.

If it is an option, you can even consider a green screen for your background, as it is easy to edit later on.

That way, you can be absolutely sure that the background behind you would not be distracting in any way.

Set up your audio and video recording devices

Another significant part of your video resume is the audio and video recording devices that you use.

You need to make sure that the quality of your video resume is as good as possible.

In any other case, it might look unprofessional and that would effectively terminate your chances of getting the interview.

Lucky for you, technology is developing at a rapid pace.

Today, most smartphones and laptops have a decent enough camera and microphone to get the job done.

But if you can upgrade to a better recording device, it can only work in your favor.

The best way to go is to separate the two recording devices.

It would open up more work for the edit of your video resume, but the quality would be significantly better.

For a video recording device, you can consider a DSLR camera, as it would bring some spectacular video quality.

When it comes to audio, you should consider standing microphones.

These can be either USB or XLR.

Finding and using a USB standing microphone is usually much easier, as they don’t require additional hardware.

On the other hand, XLR ones require an additional audio interface to work, but can really boost up your audio quality.

Edit the video

That step can be the most time-consuming, especially if you want to really perfect your video resume.

Before you start editing your video, make sure you have taken more than one take of it.

The more material you have to work with, the better chances you have to make it really stand out.

Make sure you match your video and audio tracks perfectly, in case you are using different devices for their recording.

And just start snipping and rearranging your video.

There are multiple software products you can use for that purpose, so just find the best for you and get started.

Collect feedback

Just like your traditional resume needs proofreading, your video resume needs some feedback as well.

You can review it yourself a couple of times, but it is always a good idea to get some fresh eyes on it.

Ask family and friends and collect their feedback.

There is always a chance that you have missed something, and some fresh pair of eyes can really help you perfect your video resume.

Tips and tricks

Now you know everything you need to know about your video resume.

But, as promised, we are not going to leave you off with some great tips and tricks.

So stick around for a little longer and see what we’ve got for you.

Make it relevant

Just like a traditional resume, you need to tailor your video resume for specific positions.

Sending out a generic one for all positions will likely backfire.

You need to get everything you can out of your video resume.

You need to show your potential employer that you are really interested in the job position.

keep it short

As mentioned earlier, you need to take into account the workload hiring managers have.

They receive hundreds of resumes for each job position.

And impressing them by sending out a video resume is not enough to make them watch a short movie about you.

You need to keep your video resume between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

Anything longer than that would probably never be watched.

Dress professionally

You need to dress to impress, it can only work in your favor.

Dressing in clothes that you would wear on your interview, or in a work environment, can really boost up your chances.

That would show your professionalism and serious attitude toward the job.

However, make sure that you use appropriate colors according to the background you have picked for your video resume.

After all, you want the focus to remain on what you are saying.

Know your audience

Information can always be a powerful tool.

Knowing who would watch your video resume can help you tailor it in the best possible way.

Research that topic and use the information you find to make the best out of your video resume.

Takeaways

We are all done.

Now you know how to create your video resume.

You are now ready to get the hiring manager’s attention and make them spend more time on your application.

Don’t forget – write a script first and make sure you have good quality recording devices.

Check out our tips and tricks once again and make your video resume get you your next interview in no time.