In today’s job scenario, the importance of employment branding cannot be overstated, as it defines how you set yourself apart from the rest. A good example of how job seekers attempt to do this is through the creation of a video resume. A video resume is a short video in which a candidate introduces themselves, provides an overview of their skills, and explains why they should be hired. Now let’s see how useful a video resume can be in boosting your position on employers’ shortlists. Before we proceed, let’s address some advantages and disadvantages of having a video resume.
Why More Job Seekers are Resorting to Video Resumes
Video resumes can be captivating because one gets a chance to introduce himself or herself in a different way and also for the quality of communication. It is different from a paper resume since the employers get to see you and even hear from you. It also became particularly useful in professional fields where people are particularly judged on their personality and how well they present themselves to the public such as in marketing, sales, or even customer relations. This is because CVs have the potential to make you more memorable to hiring managers than the conventional resume.
Personal Connection
the biggest benefit of using a video resume is that it fosters the element of rapport. By using competency-based resumes, employers have a feel of who you are apart from the documents you provide in your curriculum vitae. This can be very useful specifically if you are a good communicator or have some extraordinary personality that can hardly be expressed through words. A video in turn provides you with a chance to explain why you want the job and why the company, which also helps to stand out from the rest of the applicants.
Showcasing Creativity
A video resume also gives one the freedom to be as flamboyant as one wants to be as an individual and a candidate. One thing that is not rigid here is the location of the video, its genre, and the language used to portray the personality brand. For example, if you want to get a job in arts like graphic design, multimedia, or film and video production, then a video resume is far more suitable because it reveals creativity in a quite different way than a written resume. Highly likely, such a strategy will bring attention to some particular employer and show that you are willing to do more than everyone else.
Challenges and Limitations
However, as it will be observed, video resumes also have their strengths and weaknesses or limitations. Video resumes are not suitable for all employers who would rather not have it or even if they do accept it. Some may consider them as time-consuming, particularly when they have many applications to go through.
Besides, it can be stated that an ineffective video resume can hardly be effective and may cause more negativity than a positive. If your video is considered of low quality, not unique, or you made a series of continuous clips having long duration, the outcome will not be very pleasing. The video needs to be polished and not too long, best of all, it needs to be relevant to the position you are applying for.
Time Investment
This process entails a lot of time to be consumed while preparing a video resume. Some of the issues that you are supposed to consider include planning of content, location selection, and appearance. But there is also the technical side of shooting the video and even the matter of how the video was recorded and assembled. This can be quite time-consuming especially if you are not quite used to producing video work. However, getting to make the video can be very rewarding especially when there are so many people within the same employment niche.
Reaching a Broader Audience
The difference between the traditional resume and the video resume is clearly distinguishable, a video resume can be shared and posted on social platforms easily; placing you in the list of recruiters and hiring managers. Since the market of UAE is competitive and cutthroat, when applying for jobs in the UAE, a video resume combined with a Professional CV Writing service in UAE will be beneficial to draw attention.
Enhancing Your Online Presence
Based on the current concept of brand personality, the image that a person creates in social networks can be considered an indispensable aspect of his or her personal brand. A video resume can also add to your promotion because then people can know something about you from this side as well. If uploaded on your LinkedIn account or your personal website, a video resume can be an enhancement to one’s professional profile. It speaks volumes that you are in tune with today’s technology and feel okay using new-age tools to market yourself.
When to Use a Video Resume
It is noteworthy to state that video resumes could also work effectively; however, it may not be appropriate in all circumstances. For example, they are fine suitable for business sectors that require creativity and attractive presentation. This works great if you are in the finance or law sector, for instance, you might find that using a traditional resume is most suitable. One has to choose the kind of company they are applying for and the position before they decide to present a video resume. If you are unsure about your chances simply email the recruiter and ask him/her if video resumes are acceptable.
Conclusion
While the video resume can be a useful way of making an impact within the current job search it should not be used by everyone. It lets you express what type of person you are and how unique your ideas can be in relation to a regular resume. That is why if you decide to make a video resume, it is crucial to make it professional, short, and specific to the position. If properly employed, a video resume can add to what is contained in a traditional resume, in order to offer a powerful first impression to a company.
