2. What a video resume can do
• Done well it can help you market yourself to employers
• Done wrong it can stop chances of getting an interview.
• At worst, knock you from contention and humiliate you.
3. Video Resume Do’s
•Keep it short, 1 minute, no more than 3 minutes
•Dress professionally in business attire, just like an
in-person interview.
•Start by mentioning your name (first and last).
•Focus on your professional endeavors, not your
personal ones.
•Discuss why you would be a good hire and benefit
the company.
•Thank the viewer for considering you for
employment.
4. Video Resume Don'ts
• Not all employers are interested.
• Others are worried about discrimination issues.
• Might not have a place in a standard applicant-tracking
system.
• A video resume does not replace traditional one.
• Don't mix your personal life with your
professional one.
• Your video resume won’t replace your traditional
resume.
• Don't link your video resume to profiles you'd
prefer employers don't see
• Oh, wow! What a dorky-looking mustache!"
5. Part 1 Pre-Production
Audience
• What type of industry is my primary audience?
• What points do I want to highlight on my resume?
• What kind of outfit am I wearing?
• Don’t forget to smile!
Script
• First, try to trim down your script to about a minute or so.
• Hit your main points and move on.
• It’s perfectly fine to break your video resume into sections.
• Create slides for your video with PowerPoint.
Practice
• Practice what you're going to say ahead of time, try to do it from
memory.
• At very least, read through script and try to be natural.
• Rehearse in front of a mirror or have a friend listen to you.
• Look at the camera not at the desk or table below you.
6. Part 2 Gear
Cameras DSLR cameras that range in price from
$600 to $2,500. Even most smartphones now shoot
video in a quality high enough for the web, and it
works great
Lights Try to find a room with no windows so you
can have complete control over the lighting setup.
• For under $20 you can buy a couple 150-watt
incandescent clamp lights that work really well.
Microphones
• Use a quality microphone or external audio
recording device.
• If you’re recording with a smartphone, try a clip on
lapel (lavalier) mic ($40 and up).
• Another option is to record audio separately with an
external device like the Zoom H1.
8. Part 3 Shooting the video
• If you are new to cameras put all of the
settings on auto.
• Be aware of windows, the sun or clouds
changing positions.
• Shoot from the waist up allow yourself a few
inches of head room at the top
• Find stationary background that can be
easily compressed and still look good.
• Get steady. Whenever possible, shoot your
video on a tripod.
• Lighten up. Added brightness can actually
improve image quality.
9. Part 4 Editing
• Try Camtasia. You can get a free30
day with full features here.
http://goo.gl/uWNXJL
• Use a tutorial for tips on editing your
video… http://goo.gl/rt5QNb
• Keep edits simple, to many cuts and
slices can make things horrifying
• Also, review the video resumes on
YouTube, ideas, and more do’s and
dont’s http://goo.gl/mzBikQ
10. Part 5 Post and Promote
• Before you promote your resume online, ask
friends or family to review it. If it's not perfect,
start over.
• Include a link to your video resume in your
paper/online resume.
• Post video or a link in professional
profiles like MyWorkster, Career Builder,
LinkedIn or Jobster.
• Upload your video to your own web site like
YouTube and link to it from there.
• Send the link to your networking contacts.
