How a Video Resume Can Give You the Edge in Video Interviews

Video interviews are becoming more prominent in recruitment, with companies increasingly using them for at least the first stage of the interview process. The progress of technology in the recruitment sector has also seen video resumes become increasingly popular. In fact, creating and submitting a video resume as part of your job application can be the ideal way to prepare for a video interview. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of a video resume, and how to use it as prep for your video interviews.

What is a video resume?

A video resume is a short video presentation to introduce yourself to recruiters or employers and highlight some of your key skills, achievements and experience. Video resumes are growing in popularity as candidates look for ways to stand out from the crowd in a competitive job market.

While video resumes might not replace a traditional written resume, they can enhance your job prospects by showcasing your skills in a different, more engaging way. The process of producing a video resume and presenting yourself professionally on camera is also a useful way of impressing employers in its own right.

When might you use a video resume?

There are various contexts when a video resume could be valuable for your job prospects. Some situations when you might consider creating a video resume alongside your traditional resume are:

• If the job requires presentation skills: If you’re likely to be giving regular presentations in the job, a video resume can show employers your self-confidence and presentation skills.
• When applying for creative roles: Video resumes provide the opportunity to be more creative than traditional written resumes. You can show your creativity with editing skills, adding graphics and other design elements that make your video resume stand out.
• If it’s a crowded job market: In a particularly competitive job market, a video resume can showcase additional skills, while offering more engaging content than the traditional-style resume.
• If the recruitment process involves a video interview: If you’d be expected to attend a video interview as part of the selection process, a video resume can give the employer an impression of your onscreen manner and qualities in advance of meeting you.

Are video resumes becoming more popular?

There is evidence to suggest video resumes are becoming more popular among jobseekers, while video recruitment techniques are also becoming more important for hiring managers. A study by the Canadian research institute Cirano revealed that two-thirds of employers opened and watched video submissions from their applicants. The inclusion of a video resume as part of an application led to a 10% increase in call-back rates.

Similarly, a survey conducted by LinkedIn showed that 79% of hiring managers believe video recruiting techniques have become more important as a means of vetting candidates in recent years. The same study indicates that almost two-thirds of jobseekers (61%) believe a video introduction could eventually replace the traditional cover letter.

How a video resume can be valuable preparation for a video interview

Producing a compelling, professional video resume can be the ideal way to prepare yourself for a video interview. Here are just a few reasons why a video resume can give you a better chance of success in the video interview stage of the recruitment process:

• It helps you get comfortable in front of the camera: Becoming more confident in front of the camera is an essential step towards success in your video interview. Producing a video interview gives you valuable additional time on camera, to grow your confidence levels.
• It gives you the chance to improve your speaking skills: video resumes and video interviews both require presentation and public speaking skills. The more time you spend getting comfortable talking about yourself and your key skills, the better prepared you’ll be for your video interview.
• It provides an opportunity to review your setup: Recording a video resume gives you an opportunity to make sure your background is professional and presentable, and your scene is well lit. All these things help to create a positive first impression with the hiring manager.
• It can help you improve your articulation and body language: Speaking on camera isn’t the same as speaking to someone else face-to-face, in person. Creating a positive impression on video requires a certain approach to your articulation and body language. Taking the time to practice in front of the camera can help you discover what works best.
• It gives you the chance to talk about your key skills: While your resume outlines your work history and qualifications, your video resume provides the opportunity to highlight your key skills and best personal qualities. 
• It helps the employer to feel more familiar with you: If the hiring manager has already seen you on a video resume, they might feel more familiar and at ease with you when the video interview comes around. This increased familiarity can help you strike up a rapport more quickly with the interviewer.
• It can provide talking points for your video interview: Your video resume is the ideal format to draw attention to the things you wish employers to focus on in their decision-making. This can set the tone and talking points for your video interview.

Tips for creating a video resume that gives you the edge for video interviews

If you’re going to submit a video resume, follow these tips to make sure you make the best possible impact, and prepare yourself as well as possible for your video interview:

• Practice your script before recording: Allowing yourself some time to practice the presentation for your video resume can help you with preparations further down the line for your video interview. Both scenarios require you to prepare in advance, so you know what you’re planning to say in your video resume, and you have some key answers prepared for your video interview.
• Set up your background and lighting: The setup for your video resume is an essential component in its impact. Pick a background that gives off a professional vibe, ensure it’s well lit and keep background noise to a minimum. You can then re-use this setup for your video interview.
• Keep it concise and relevant: Keeping your video resume short and to-the-point is a useful exercise, which prepares you for giving concise answers to a video interview. Conversing with someone face-to-face makes it easier to pick up on social cues that help conversation flow, while speaking to a camera requires you to be a little more disciplined with your speech.
• Use natural, down-to-earth language: a video resume, as with a video interview, is all about making a strong first impression and building rapport with the hiring manager. Aim for a down-to-earth demeanor and avoid being overly formal in your delivery.
• Don’t read your script word-for-word: Similar to the point above, a scripted video resume that you recite word-for-word will likely come off stilted and impersonal. Prepare yourself, but try not to read your script verbatim. The same is critical for your video interview: have some answers prepared, but don’t recite them from memory.
• Show your video resume to people for feedback: While a video interview is a live, spontaneous event, a video resume can be practiced, improved and perfected. Record your video resume and, before you send it, show it to somebody who’ll give you honest feedback. If necessary, you can then re-shoot your video resume, and take the lessons you’ve learned into your video interview.

Using a video resume alongside a traditional resume

While a video resume is a highly valuable tool in certain job application scenarios, it hasn’t taken the place of a traditional resume just yet. It’s still essential to create a professional resume that catches the attention of employers and helps you stand out from other candidates.

A video resume is a great accompaniment to a well-written, well-designed resume. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success, aim to produce both a traditional resume and a video resume. The traditional resume is ideal for covering your detailed employment history and qualifications, while the video resume is perfect for introducing yourself and focusing on one or two of your key skills and achievements. Using a professionally designed resume template, like those available on Jobseeker.com, is another way to help your application make the best possible impact.

Other tips for a perfect video resume

Follow these final tips to make the most of your video resume:

• Keep it short: Aim for a length of 60 to 90 seconds — just enough time to introduce yourself and cover one or two of your greatest skills and qualities.
• Personalize your video resume for the employer: Mention the employer and hiring manager by name, for a personal touch that will help build rapport.
• Tailor your video resume to the role: As with your written resume, tailor the content of your video resume to match the role, highlighting key skills that mirror the job description.
• Dress professionally: Dress in a professional manner that matches the conventions of the industry you’re applying to. If you’re applying to a traditional, formal profession, but you’re wearing casual clothes in your video resume, this will set the wrong tone.
• Include a call to action: Add a call to action to your video resume to encourage the employer to open a dialogue with you, in much the same way you would in a cover letter.
• Review your video resume before sending: Awkward though it might seem to watch yourself on camera, it’s essential to review your video resume before you send it. This can help you to catch problems with the recording or sound, and re-shoot if you’re not happy with your delivery.