​Kovel Vocational and Technical Education Center

What is a video resume and how effective is its use for a young specialist? 

How to increase the attractiveness of your resume and increase your chances of getting a long-awaited job offer? Shooting a video resume can help with this.

A video resume is a professionally filmed video in which the candidate briefly presents his biography, professional achievements, skills and personal qualities. However, before creating a video resume, it is important to understand how it should look, where to publish it, how to properly present yourself and how effective this method of compiling a resume will be for you.

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Advantages of a video resume

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The employer has a high probability of noticing you. A video resume distinguishes you from other candidates, differing from the standard format. This does not mean that a regular document has become less effective, but video appeals attract attention due to their unusualness, which is why they are usually viewed first.

A video resume opens up opportunities that are difficult to achieve with a standard resume. For example, you can focus the employer's attention on your strengths and, conversely, hide or disguise as much as possible those aspects of your personality or thinking that do not look their best.

A video resume allows you to reveal the candidate's personal traits. The main disadvantage of standard resumes is that they do not give employers the opportunity to see the real person behind them.

There are few such resumes. Remember the basic principle: if you want to find the best job offer, become such an offer for the employer. Ukrainian applicants usually look for a job using traditional tools that have been used for decades, so they rarely use a video resume. Therefore, it is worth becoming one of the few who impresses employers with their non-standard approach to job search.

Disadvantages of a video resume

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The complexity of technical implementation. To create a video resume, you need a professional who has experience in creating advertising videos. He should understand what elements should be included in the video appeal, how best to film you and in what image you should present yourself to a future employer.

If it is not possible to use the services of a professional, a PowerPoint presentation created by yourself can be an excellent alternative to a video resume. It is important that the information about you is as informative and concise as possible. Before creating a presentation, carefully consider the content of the slides and their number. The number of slides should not exceed 10-15. It is advisable to accompany the informative part with visual images and your own photos. 

2. Limited information. The format of a video resume limits the possibilities of providing detailed information about the candidate. A video presentation involves a concise summary of your regular resume, which presents you with the task of choosing: what to include in the resume and what to leave out. 

3. Restrictions depending on the profession. A video resume will be useful for representatives of creative professions. Future specialists in specialties that are based mainly on communications should reflect their creative potential and non-standard approach to solving problems. While for specialists in technical fields it is important to be careful, since specific results and achievements are valued here, which are difficult to demonstrate in video format.

4. The inability to use a video resume as a separate document, without a standard resume, requires you to also prepare a regular resume, which will contain more detailed information about your experience and skills. If you decide to create a video resume, it is important to carefully approach its structure and content to avoid the impression of negligence and shortcomings in the organization of information.

Plan in advance what skills you want to demonstrate to the employer. The resume should be short and not contain unnecessary details. Do not go into depth about your hobbies or additional skills that are not key to the vacancy. On the other hand, a video resume should look natural, you should not look like a robot mechanically listing your skills. The employer should see a lively, open person who is striving to get the job of their dreams.

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Structure of the video address

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1. Introduction. The beginning. We begin by greeting the employer and introducing ourselves. It is important to start with your own name.

2. First impression. After the greeting, name the position you are applying for. This is the moment that is best remembered, because the information that was named at the beginning and end usually remains in memory the best. It is important that the employer clearly finds your position in the context of the video presentation. Also indicate the educational institution where you received your education.

3. Tell us about your work experience, but avoid a detailed list of all past and current jobs, since this information is already contained in your written resume. Emphasize the main aspects of your experience that are most important for the position you are applying for.It is important to maintain a balance between detail and clarity so as not to overload the video summary with information. In order for your video resume to be interesting, it should last no more than 5 minutes. How can you fit all the information about yourself into such a short period of time? This is a difficult task, but doable.

Where to post your video resume?

It is not recommended to post your video resume on public resources where it can be accessible to anyone. Employers primarily pay attention to job sites, so try posting your video resume on specialized professional platforms. Some job search sites already support the ability to add videos.

You can also post your video on social networks. However, you should choose only professionally oriented platforms for publication. You can also send your video resume as an attachment to a letter directly to the HR manager. You can send it as a separate file or include a link in a standard resume.