Top tips to create a perfect video resume
While video resumes are definitely not the norm for most companies, having one can provide a real advantage if you’re applying for creative positions or client-facing roles. Nowadays you can even showcase one on your Linkedin account!
That being said. It’s true that making your own video resume can appear a little intimidating at first, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience with videography or video editing.
Don’t worry though, we’re here to help! Using our tips and our online video resume maker, you’ll be able to create a stunning video resume that’s sure to give you an edge on the job market.
Write a script
This first step might seem obvious to some, but it’s incredibly important. Make sure to put down everything you want to include in your resume, then write a script and learn it. Video resumes need to be short, concise and showcase your abilities. Going off a well written script will help you sound more confident and keep the whole video tighter.
Focus on what’s important
This is relevant any time you have to write a resume, but it goes doubly for video ones. When putting together your resume, you should focus on the things that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Don’t waste time telling people your life’s story, tell them what makes you great for that job.
Keep it short
Depending on the size of the company you’re applying to, the people reviewing your resume might have dozens if not hundreds of them to go through. Don’t waste their time by making it overly long. If the company provided a minimum/maximum duration for the resume in their guidelines, try to stick closer to the minimum. If they haven’t, then keeping it under 60 seconds is a safe bet.
Dress professionally
Just because you’re not there in person doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to record your video resume in your house clothes. You should wear clothes that are appropriate for the situation. Depending on company culture and the position you’re applying for, you might not have to dress overly formal, but you should still try to look your best when going in for the interview.
Have a clean background
Having a messy room isn’t really something that you’d get fired over, but not being willing to clean it up before filming your video resume is definitely not a good look. Make sure to record in a room that can provide a nice, clean background that won’t steal people’s attention away from you.
If you wanted to get creative, you could also record yourself using a green screen and then use an online video editor like Flixier to replace your background with something a bit more fitting.
Decent lighting does wonders
Good lighting is crucial to making a video look nice, especially when recording using a webcam or a mobile phone camera. When you’re filming your video resume, try to make sure your face is well lit from the front and avoid filming with your back turned to any strong light source.
Doing professional 3-point lighting isn’t always possible inside an apartment, but if you can manage to film in front of a window during daylight, that should be more than enough.
Do multiple takes
Unless you’re very comfortable being in front of a camera, the chances that you’ll get it right from the start are pretty slim. Don’t be afraid to do multiple takes! Try as many times as you want and when you feel like you got it just right, do it one extra time just to be sure.
Oh, and don’t stop/restart your camera after each take! Just keep rolling and record as much as you need to, you’ll be able to cut out any mistakes easily when you edit the footage. A browser based video editor like Flixier will work on any computer and make editing a breeze, even if you’re new to it.
Make it visually interesting
Having a visually engaging video resume is a great way to stand out from the crowd and make sure the reviewer keeps listening throughout the entire duration. Now, don’t get us wrong, nobody’s saying you need to be Michael Bay, but a little Motion Text to highlight important concepts or a relevant infographic are definitely going to help.
If you need help doing all that, we recommend giving Flixier a shot! Our online video editor is easy to figure out and makes creating videos feel as easy as putting together a PowerPoint presentation.
Don’t believe us? Try it out for yourself and get your video resume done today!