Are Video Resume Sites Desperate?

March 13, 2007 · Filed Under Finding Your Job 

I know it is crazy for me to suggest that video resumes won’t work. I am sure that’s what they said about locomotive, automobile and putting a man on the moon. And I know I should get my tinfoil hat on to suggest that video resumes might not be the no-brainer solution for people who wish to set themselves apart.

If that is the case, why would I get comments two months after I made a post to both my blog and RecruitingBloggers.com about the silliness of video resumes? As you can see, Peggy made a comment saying that most job seekers will benefit from having a video resume. And what do you know, Jason made a comment over at RecruitingBloggers singing the same praises. All within an hour of each other on the same night!

Please!

I maintain, and will continue to do so until my fingers are bloody little nubs, that the time spent on perfecting your video resume (or video supplement or whatever) is better used to perfect your paper resume and cover letter with time left to network with professionals in the field. I am assuming that we do have a finite amount of time here on the planet though. The samples I saw on that website didn’t compel me any more than the suggestion. And to further my point, their resumes could use some improvement without even mentioning their performance on their video resumes.

Video resumes don’t do it for me just like video conferencing doesn’t do it for me either. If you are going to speak, call me. If you have a presentation to give, send me the Powerpoint. Seeing your bobbing head on the other end of your voice may be novel but it adds little to job considerations.

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Comments

5 Responses to “Are Video Resume Sites Desperate?”

  1. YourHRGuy.com » Blog Archive » Interview with CEO of Resumefit (Part 1) on March 20th, 2007 8:55 pm

    [...] my video resume post, I received an e-mail from Tom Schmidt at Resumefit about his product. I went to the website and [...]

  2. » Are Video Resume Sites Desperate? on April 5th, 2007 3:00 pm

    [...] peppermint lately wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptI maintain, and will continue to do so until my fingers are bloody little nubs, that the time spent on perfecting your video resume (or video supplement or whatever) is better used to perfect your paper resume and cover letter with time … [...]

  3. Paul on May 27th, 2007 9:27 am

    Video resumes are a technology in search of a problem. Outside of acting, or some other career where appearance on camera is critical, there isn’t any point. Worse, in addition to not adding any value, going to the trouble of creating a video resume can actually hurt, as Aleksey Vayner demonstrated all too ably.

    What I find particularly amusing are the websites that have been set up specifically to create and promote video resumes, and the VCs that are backing them. This is as dopey as Webvan burning $1.2B in investment capital in pursuit of profitless grocery delivery. There has to be a) a business model, and b) a need. And the two have to be in sync.

    There are small niche applications of video technology in the business of recruiting and hiring, but I just don’t get how this idea keeps going around and around. I’ve even heard colleges are promoting it now. Has everyone lost their minds?

    Here’s a more detailed analysis of video resumes which details the pluses and mostly minuses. http://thewaythingsare.typepad.com/antimarketer/2007/03/youtube_a_free_.html

  4. Dan Thai on July 11th, 2007 3:00 am

    I think video resume does not fit every job. It is up to the job you are applying. Unless you are an actor or a dancer or want to go to entertainment business, it’s not worth going through the process of making of a video.

  5. Mike Mehrle on September 8th, 2007 1:08 am

    Oh, my, gosh!!!

    I know it is just an opinion; but… I am a recruiter for a national company and hiring by over the phone interviews “STINK!!!”

    I do have to say that most (and by most, I mean 99.9999%) of video resumes currently posted are no better than an entertainment value due to their performance, even the ones for people in the media industry.

    Most people will try to do it themselves rather than hire a professional. It is like someone working for a company finds out you can use Microsoft Word for a layout program and all of a sudden, they are a graphic artist. A comparison tangent? YES! I am just trying to make a point.

    A video resume will tell me much… no, MUCH faster if I want to pursue the candidate; and not because of their looks. If anyone hires by looks, they might be missing out on someone who “could” take their company to new heights.

    I like the idea of a video resume because anyone can have a resume “professionally” written. How are “you” as an HR manager, recruiter or just someone in the position of hiring going to know if the candidate is worth perusing by something you don’t even know that they wrote? You won’t!!! It is a trap shoot in this game.

    A video resume is just another tool I could use to “help” weed out that stack of “professionally written” resumes on my desk.

    If you are saying that video resumes’ as a stand alone means for applying for a job is senseless… I have to agree. However, if used in unison it can help “me” make better decisions on (at the minimum) who to interview. I just want to interject here, that I would still require a written resume; I don’t care how good the video was.

    I don’t think a video resume should be over done; I don’t need to know they love their dog or can play a piano. Having a good 30 second or less lead in (like a cover letter) would be enough for me to want to read or watch their resume.

    In closing, there is “NOTHING” that will beat a well written resume I am with you on that. EXCEPT… For a “written” resume that comes to me by e-mail with the resume attached with a link to their video or even by regular mail accompanied with a DVD. I prefer e-mail.

    We have the technology… why not use it?

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