Video Resumes are Awful
I am going to go with slightly stronger language than Secrets of the Job Hunt and Magic Pot of Jobs and say that video resumes are probably one of the worst things ever devised as part of a job hunt in the history of mankind*.
I was trying to think of worse things in this world then going to this site and having to shuffle through hundreds of video resumes. I had a very hard time but I think I came up with a couple things:
- Dropping a hammer on my toes
- Having to wear one of those big chicken suits on a really hot day
- Shaking the hands of hundreds of thousands people without any hand cleanser
I am just awfully disgusted with the idea that people would actually work on a video resume before they have come close to perfecting their paper resume. Not to mention the point that Tiffany made regarding introducing bias or the point that C.M. about actually charging for a service that is already free.
I guess the issue I have with it all is the absolute faddish things that come out because of people’s desperation during the job search. Using a video resume when you can’t find a job using your regular resume is like trying to master the double reverse jam before you can make a free throw in basketball.
But ultimately, what will prevent people from using video resumes will be the fact that they will not work. And if something doesn’t help them get a job, it likely won’t stick around that long.
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Your HR Guy is a Human Resources Generalist practicing in the field. But don't let that fool you, this isn't a boring blog. I seek relevance and humor in a place we will spend much of our lives. Everything from workplace issues, job seeking and terrible bosses. Read more...
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It may depend on the industry. Actors may of course want to use video clips; however, video may also become part of an eportfolio in some professions such as teaching or presentation skills. Using a video in place of a resume may be a bad idea, but a clip properly used in an online resume/eportfolio could be beneficial. It would in this case serve as a sample of the persons specific work skills.
Respectfully, I think you’re missing the point. A video resume doesn’t replace a paper resume; it’s simply another tool. It’s often said that hard skills listed on a resume get a candidate in the door but soft skills get them hired. A video resume is a great tool to further differentiate like skillset candidates on soft skills before an interview. You won’t watch a video resume for everybody; just those few that you’re considering having into an interview. Effectively, by watching a 60 second preview for a small amount of candidates, you can draw a better pool of candidates to come in for an in person interview, then make a better hire.
I agree with you though that VidRez is a poorly put together site.
I said it to Animal, and I’ll say it to Nathaniel. Videotaping someone is an unfair, unnatural, and inaccurate way of assessing someone’s soft skills. For most professions, being able to communicate directly with coworkers effectively is communication skill enough, for many but still not most, live presentation skills in front of a small to medium audience is enough. But you know how most people suck at public speaking? Even more of them suck even harder in front of a camera, because there’s no feedback at all and the camera just makes people more self-conscious.
And 60 seconds is far too short for such a clip to be useful even if it WERE well done, which most of them won’t be.
(Clearly performing arts and TV-type positions are an exception, but they’re the exception that proves the rule- those are the people who actually WILL be expected to perform on camera or for an audience they can’t interact with as a part of their jobs, therefore it’s still a fair test for them. But not for a salesperson who will be dealing with people on the phone, via email, and face to face.)
Patricia: I simply disagree. For 99% of professions out there, this doesn’t make sense as any sort of work evaluation. This isn’t even good for standing out unless you put money into having it professionally produced. Even then, professional production only goes so far in making a person look good on video, they have to have some camera presence. I have a feeling that most video resumes will resemble the professors of distance degree videos.
Nathanial: I don’t think I am missing the point when I say this is faddish and gimicky. I really, truly mean that this sort of video resume or supplement will only hurt candidates, not help them. If 95% of candidates don’t have the knowledge to put together a decent paper resume, what makes people think that putting together a video resume that demonstrates your soft skills is going to turn out right? I am not going to get anything additional from 60 seconds of a video resume. And I guess that’s the thing I don’t understand behind the logic of them: they should be short so that people can review them but they should be substantial because you should be able to demonstrate your soft skills without just spending 60 seconds spewing buzzwords and looking pretty that will hopefully entice me to interview you.
Video resumes might work for the following professions (as pure supplements):
1. Reality TV star (ok, this could be for the whole thing)
2. Local news anchor
3. Actor/Actress
4. … drawing a blank. Anything else that requires you spending copious time in front of the camera
I agree that most video resumes…well…suck.
That being said, they *could* be good. Yes, videotaping someone is unnatural. However, maybe you’re videotaping a conversation with a recruiter or my HR Guy. At some point the camera disappears.
Then, with some good editing, you can get the heart of “who I am” and “what I’m passionate about - at work”. This, of course, presumes that they are passionate about anything…
Dan
I’ve tried to be fair-minded about video resumes because I think we all need to figure out where technology is taking the job search - that said, I’ve come to agree with you that 99.9% of the time, video resumes just won’t work. Most people are too uncomfortable in front of a camera to be themselves, and HR folks are looking for ways to streamline their workload, not add to it by watching endless videos of awkward people umming and ahhing their way through a prepared pitch.
That said, there is still the odd case where I think a video resume can be successful. That’s when the candidate does something interesting enough/well enough in a video resume to actually sell themselves more effectively than they ever could have done on a paper resume. Admittedly it’s rare and certainly not enough to build a business around. It’s something that creative candidates will do for themselves, just the way they create a website, or an innovative MySpace page, or a beautifuly bound hardcover portfolio. In other words, they wil be the rare exception, not the rule.
Yes, that’s right, video resumes are not for everyone, but for most. With some patience and many tries, and some good friends to give honest critic, it should be possible to create a good one. Also, a good video resume shouldn’t only include the video. Instead, it should just complete the traditional application including cover letter, CV, recommendations, etc. See CVOne to learn more on how job seekers can create a video resume. There are some sample videos posted as well: http://www.gocvone.com. Just click on “View a CVOne sample resume”.
[...] and there are already dedicated Video CV or VCV-posting sites. A nice idea until you realize that recruiters hate them since recruiters often lack the time to go through all the paper resumes they receive and video [...]
well, this is a bit late in coming. Btu without even mentioning the obvious that will remain politically correctly hidden that employers won’t speak of, is visual attractivness, size, and even perhaps gendre/race (I hope not, but no one knows what goes on, inside the psyche of employers, they are humans too). That will have a positive or a negative impact on the visual presentation. Sounds off topic perhaps, but a reality non the less.
[...] have written about video resumes all of two times. All of them get regular reader responses from people trying to convince me that they some [...]