Have Video Resumes Gained Momentum?

It is said that the human brain has better retention capabilities with respect to what we see as compared to what we hear or read. Thus, it is obvious that a series of pictures projected in front of us will be able to captivate our attention better as compared to four lines that were spoken in front of us. Keeping in mind this basic thing about human psychology, these days people have come up with the idea of a video resume.

As the name suggests, a video resume is a short video that one makes on themselves. Like a normal resume, this speaks about a person's achievements, educational qualifications, job experience and their likes and dislikes. With video resumes gaining momentum and becoming more and more popular, many recruiters are now considering this as the initial measure of selecting candidates.

Thus, candidates need to be especially careful while making theirs. Just like while writing a standard resume, you have to adhere to certain rules and regulations while making your video resume. This article talks about those points.

1. Use A Strong Opening

How much time and attention people will give you greatly depends on how well you are able to convince them in the first 10 seconds that the rest of the video is going to be worth it. That is why it is all the way more important for you to use a strong opening line so that you can cast a lasting impression on the person reading it.

2. Be Sure Of The Medium

We understand that a video resume is something that is trending these days and that itself is enough to prompt you to create one. However, before you decide to take a step like this, decide if a video is the correct medium for you. For this, consider the age group of your interview panel and the type of job that you are applying for.

3. Dress Up Well

Make sure that you do not dress up in something that is too bright and flowery. This will make the audience shift their attention to your clothing instead of what you are saying. This does not mean that you should put on a collared white shirt. Doing so will make it look like you have been whitewashed with that of the background. Make sure that you wear well-fitted, single-coloured clothing that is not creased.

4. Get A Script

For your video to have a proper flow, it is absolutely important that you plan it well. It is a good idea to chalk out a script before you actually take the plunge and start making the video. Throughout the video make conscious efforts to ensure that you stick to your predefined script. Even if you do not want to stick to the script verbatim, at least make a basic framework and then stick to the same.

5. Maintain A Proper Pace

It is important that you maintain a decent rate of speech. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest in what you are speaking. On the other hand, if you speak too fast, chances are that some people might not understand what you are saying. One of the ways to ensure an optimal rate of speech would be by recording yourself and then hearing it out. Your ears will tell you what your ideal pace should be.

6. Keep It Short

Understand that in today's fast-paced life no one really has the time or patience to listen to your tales of lifetime achievement. If your video is anything longer than 4 or 5 minutes, chances are that people will not go beyond 4 minutes. Hence, the only way to get people to listen to what you have to say is by talking less.

7. Practise

This is applicable not just to what you are going to say in the video, but also for the video editing. Understand that this video is something that can make or break your career. Hence, take special efforts to ensure that you are able to do justice to it. It is okay if the first draft of your video is not good enough and if you have to redo the whole thing all over again.

Remember, all the effort that you put in is going to be worth it. This video is very important for you and a small shortcoming in the same may cost you the job of your dreams.

8. Be Yourself

This is perhaps one of the most important points in this list. It is important for you to be yourself. If you try to be fake and project yourself to be anything that you are not, the odds are very high that you will be caught. Hence, make it a point to ensure that you do not lie about anything throughout the video.

9. Use Visual Aids

These days, there are a number of visual aids that are available for our use. These include things like spreadsheets, graphics, animations and pie charts. Feel free to include them in your video resume in order to make it more appealing. Just because it is a "resume" it does not mean that the same has to be bland and boring. However, make sure that you maintain a formal tone throughout.

10. Choose A Proper Ambience

Understand that people will become uninterested in your video if they find that it has too much background noise or any disturbance. Thus, if you want your video resume to stand out, it is important for you to ensure that the same is shot in a quiet setting.

Also, make sure that the background is appropriately lit and that there is no disruption in the audio and video quality.