So You Want to Be In Pictures?

I saw an article this morning advising job seekers to jump on the latest trend and send a video resume. This was a video of you basically talking about your work history, experience while displaying your personality, communication skills and energy. Sounds like an interesting idea, but there are some things to consider before you call for, “…lights, camera, action.”

1. Putting down your attributes on paper in a professional but still personally anonymous way has its advantages. Your ability to do the job is what getting the interview is all about. Recruiters and hiring managers are comfortable with the written resume and may not be with a video.
2. Even the greatest actors don’t watch their own films. Why? They don’t like what they see. You can be the most talented actor, but the greatness is mainly in the viewer. What you think is a great delivery may leave someone cold. You are looking for a job, not a Golden Globe. And in this job market, the competition is much more intense.
3. A video will reveal things that employers can’t ask in an interview – age, race, color, sex, and other personal characteristics that can be discriminatory. In my years as a Human Resources Director, I occasionally received a resume that included a picture. Before forwarding it to a hiring manager, I always made a copy of the original and covered over the picture. This then became the official resume that was circulated. You may find that after all your efforts your video is never seen for fear of a future claim of discrimination.
4. Some positions require a video. When I was seeking a position as a contract trainer for an international training company, I had to send a video of myself conducting a class. Since I would be representing the company to clients all over the country, they needed to see my presentation style. On the other hand, sending a video for an administrative position may seem a little excessive and brand you as a Diva instead of a viable candidate.
5. YouTube won’t do for an interview. If you are going to send a video, or if one is requested, hire a professional to script, shoot and edit the film. A professional videographer can suggest the proper clothing, hair style, mannerisms and an appropriate setting for the position. Consider getting some advice from a professional career coach as well to review the video from an employer’s point of view.
6. Your job search may take awhile, so if you change your hair color or style, put on (or take off) a few pounds you need to update the video. Resumes customized for the position are more effective, so if you are targeting different industries or positions, you may need several versions of your video. This drives up the cost and time investment to keep things current.
7. Voice tone, body language, communication skills, speaking ability—you need to be at the top of your game for the video. If you are uncomfortable speaking in public, it will come across in the video and can work against you.

There is no substitute for a solid, well-written resume that showcases your individuality and accomplishments. Adding a video to your application can be risky but will offer a closer look that could work for you.

As posted on February 3,2011, BusinessWorkForceBlog.com.


Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a workplace consultant, blogger, motivational speaker and freelance writer for BusinessWorkForce.com. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in Training magazine, Training & Development magazine, Supervision, BiS Magazine and The Savannah Morning News. When she’s not writing, she enjoys singing Alto II with the Savannah Philharmonic Chorus and creating original gift items available on http://www.etsy.spoolhardy.com/. You can read more of her blogs at businessworkforceblog.com and view additional job postings on Beyond.com.