Video Resumes – Who Really Wins?
May 2, 2007 by Darlene McDaniel
Filed under Jobs
Video Resumes will be great tools for HR recruiters who screen candidates and for hiring managers who want to ensure they spend time with candidates they would potentially hire for a job. From my perspective, Video Resumes will be a home run for any organization who view videos in the hiring process.
Unfortunately, I don’t see how candidates really win. I know many of you may want to argue with me and try to convince me that it is a win/win for candidates and hiring managers, but I don’t agree. Why?
Here’s where I have to be careful, because I absolutely do not want to offend anyone, but here it is… most people don’t realize how they come across on video. We ALL have ideosyncrasies that will only be magnified under the truthful eye of a video camera. In my research, I saw everything from jokes, heads bobbing or moving from side to side, nervous giggles, inappropriate information and the list can truly go on.
My point – Video Resumes will be great tools for managers during the screening process. Many people who may have been screened in for an interview may get screened out because there are things we miss with the natural eye that can be reviewed and verified and replayed by watching a Video Resume.
My recommendations:
To Candidates – Be careful what you send out or make available to recruiters and hiring managers.
To Managers – Go for it! If people want to share themselves with you prior to meeting you in person, Video Resumes will be an excellent tool for screening candidates!
I totally agree with you! We each as individuals don’t realize the little things thaty we do naturally, these can be veiwed as unprofessional, or make you undesirable to the future employer. We do not notice these things because we are the ones doing them, so basically we are on the inside looking out! Sending in a video resume is giving the future employer a “one-up” on you, because they see pretty much what they will be getting before they hire you. There have been many times during my reign as a manager at a local Popeyes that someone was hired with one personality, but when they started, they were a totally different person! In my opinion, an interveiw is a set up. I say this because if you have any sense, you will not go in like “yeah what’s up, it ain’t even like dat, what had happened was….”, your gonna act like you got some sense! But at the same time, there are the ones that speak that way so much that “good” English is a mystery to them. The tips listed in this blog are great! You should be on time, you should have a firm hand shake, you should make eye contact, keep an updated resume, dress professional, don’t chew gum, don’t yawn, don’t mention a salary right away, use proper english and enunciate! My last bit of advice is take a few minutes to think about what you as an employee can bring to the table and magnify it! Let them know all the skills you have, your experience, and your references. If you want it, you gotta go get it!
Hi Toya,
Thanks for your comment! I am going to be starting a new category in the next few weeks for young people that need help with their interviewing skills. I would love to use your comments to help introduce that new category. Will that be ok with you? I would love any more ideas, feedback or comments you have!! Lastly, how did you hear about this blog? Look forward to hearing from you in the future!
I totally agree with you. I’ve worked in PR and Marketing for a few years…and some clients are great in the board room, great in a meeting, etc. But horrible in a press conference and/or TV interview or video taped session, etc.. TV is simply not for everyone…period.
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for your comment! You are correct. The unfortunate thing is most people miss those ideosyncrasies that will get in the way of a hiring manager reviewing Video Resumes. How do propose we help people review themselves objectively? I want to write about it, but I haven’t landed on how to present that piece, which in the end is the most valuable piece of information I can share with a person in the market for a job and thinking about using technology.