There has been a lot of publicity recently surrounding the quality of video CV’s and the impact or effect this can have on a candidate. Especially if the video is a hit but for the wrong reasons virally.
One such CV video which went viral has been used as an example of how not to do a video CV, after being passed around a number of web forums – gaining a lot of attention, but for the wrong reasons. The viral hit showed an Ivy-League college graduate dancing, showing off his 140-mile-per-hour tennis serve and weightlifting skills whilst making bold claims of being “trained in martial arts by Buddhist warrior monks”. I can’t imagine the look on the face of this wall street recruiter when receiving the video CV, but im sure its priceless.
However, Fun and jokes aside a video resume has to be taken seriously, as serious as handing your CV to an employer in person. If you go to YouTube with the keywords “video resume” you will find more than 75,000 results with the number growing daily. Many seem to be more legitimate than others, nevertheless with the cost of a video CV being next to nothing and the risk of it actually screening you out of an opportunity; the question has to be asked – is it a good idea?
Yes. The job market is so competitive now for college and university graduates that if you can create an award winning resume video that showcases your skills and talents in ways a paper resume and cover letter can’t…then your on to a winner.
Check out this video from 2006, of the ivy-league-college-graduate Aleksey Vayner who would have probably been onto a winner if he had applied for a digital marketing role instead of a job on wall street. Let us know your thoughts!