A video resume can be a powerful tool to help you stand out from other applicants and land your dream job. Unlike a traditional paper resume, a video resume allows you to demonstrate your personality, communication skills, and enthusiasm for the role. However, creating an effective video resume requires thoughtfulness and preparation. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through what to include in your video resume, examples and best practices, tips for filming, and advice for submitting your video resume to employers.
What to Include in a Video Resume
A video resume should highlight your qualifications, skills, achievements, and personality. Here are some key elements to include:
Introduction
Start with a brief personal introduction. State your name, career field or industry, and outline your most relevant experience and qualifications in 1-2 sentences. You want to capture the viewer’s attention right away.
Professional Summary
Provide an overview of your professional experiences, skills, accomplishments, and goals. Emphasize details that align with the target role. This is your chance to explain why you’re an excellent fit for the job. Keep it concise – aim for 2-3 key points that make you stand out.
Work Experience
Discuss 1-2 of your most recent and relevant professional experiences. Explain your responsibilities and highlight achievements, awards, and promotions earned in each role. Use numbers and facts to quantify your accomplishments when possible.
Skills
List the top hard and soft skills you possess that apply to the target job. Hard skills may include technical expertise, certifications, fluency in certain programs or languages. Soft skills may include communication, work ethic, organization, and ability to work on a team. Provide 1-2 brief examples of times you demonstrated these skills successfully.
Education
Provide details on your academic background, including the institutions attended, field of study, and any degrees, certifications, or academic honors earned. Only include education history that’s specifically relevant to the role.
Motivation
Briefly explain why you’re interested in the job and company, and how the role is the next logical step in your career progression. This shows passion and fit.
Call to Action
Close your video resume by thanking the viewer for their consideration and providing your contact information. Encourage them to reach out with any questions.
Best Practices for Filming a Video Resume
Carefully planning and executing your video resume shoot is key to creating a polished, professional end product. Follow these best practices:
| Best Practice | Details |
|---|---|
| Choose simple, professional attire | Opt for classic business attire in neutral colors that looks sharp on camera. |
| Film in a quiet, plain setting | Avoid distracting backgrounds. Film against a simple wall or use a backdrop. |
| Use optimal lighting | Position yourself facing a window or use ring lights/softboxes to evenly illuminate your face. |
| Look into the camera when speaking | Maintain eye contact to appear focused and engaged. |
| Speak slowly and clearly | Enunciate words fully and pause between statements. |
| Limit video length to 2-3 minutes | Keep things concise to maintain the viewer’s attention. |
| Practice your script thoroughly | Memorize what you’ll say so the delivery sounds natural, not robotic. |
Investing time in rehearsing and professionally producing your video will make you stand out as an organized, passionate candidate.
Tips for an Impactful Video Resume
Beyond the logistics of filming, follow these tips to create a compelling, memorable video resume:
Tailor the Content
Thoroughly research the company and role to shape content that fits their needs.
Show Personality and Enthusiasm
Use natural body language, varied tone, and smiles to showcase your energy and passion.
Quantify Achievements
Include measurable results and data to demonstrate the tangible impact you offer.
Practice Until Polished
Rehearse until your video has a smooth, natural flow and energy.
Check Audio and Video Quality
Watch back your final video to confirm proper lighting, sound, framing, etc.
Create Visual Interest
Integrate b-roll footage, graphics, or captions to reinforce your message visually.
Keep file size reasonable
Balance quality with file size for easy uploading/sharing. MP4 format around 25MB is typical.
Examples of Excellent Video Resumes
Watching sample videos can provide inspiration for creating your own stellar video resume. Here are two excellent examples:
Video Resume Example 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-XdVelmobilenetj7s
Key Takeaways:
- Opens with enthusiastic and friendly introduction
- Concise overview of professional background and skills
- Lists measurable achievements and awards
- Explains motivations for applying in a personable, natural manner
- Closes with clear call to action and contact information
Video Resume Example 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLiYqsYzscU
Key Takeaways:
- Fun, creative intro capturing attention
- Seamlessly transitions between b-roll footage and narration
- Quantifies achievements and includes visual graphs
- Shows personality while remaining professional
- Concise and well-organized in under 2 minutes
How to Submit a Video Resume
Once you’ve produced your video resume, follow these tips to send it to employers:
Post Publicly
Upload your video resume to YouTube, Vimeo or LinkedIn to share the public link with employers.
Send Directly
Email smaller video files directly to recruiters or use file transfer services for larger sizes.
Provide Transcript
Include a text transcript in case the employer prefers reading versus watching the video.
Follow Application Instructions
If the job posting has specific video submission guidelines, follow them exactly.
Highlight URL in Resume
In your written resume, include the video resume URL to encourage employers to view it.
Follow Up Politely
Follow up after submitting your video to see if the employer has any questions.
Conclusion
Creating a standout video resume requires thoughtfully planning your content, practicing until polished, filming professionally, and submitting it effectively. By showcasing your qualifications and personality in a video format, you can engage employers in a more memorable way. With the tips in this guide, you’re now equipped to produce an eye-catching video resume that helps you land your next career opportunity.
