Video Resume Mistakes

Video Resume Mistakes Video is the new Black. Right? I mean when you see that play button triangle, arent you just compelled to click it?Video is the highest online activity, according to Pew Internationals recent report. No wonder we are seeing so many video résumés these days.In fact, I did a search for video résumé on Youtube and got 14,600 results!Most of them SUCK!Lets think about this for a second. If a résumé   does a horrible job communicating personality, why would you think reading your résumé on camera would be any better?Most video résumés are bland, and have no narrative quality, no drama, and zero entertainment factor.The sad part is, all the tutorials on how to do an online résumé want you to read your paper résumé looking at the camera, with a suit and tie in monotone voice.Its like we forgot what makes good film interesting; factors like drama, narrative, characters and visual effects. The film industry has it down to a formula havent you noticed that most of the movies th at came out last year were all identical? (just kidding, there were actually some really great films this year but still.)Why do we think being professional means having no personality?The following are the top 3 mistakes video résumés make and what you can do differently.Video Résumé Mistake 1: Read Your Résumé to the CameraThis is the most common video résumé mistake boring. Remember in your creative writing class, when they told you, Show it, dont tell it?Video gives you so much opportunity to show and demonstrate who you are. I mean, you may or may not be handsome or pretty and all that, but people want to see and experience when they watch a video. If you wear your suit and begin rattling off your past experiences, dont expect people to watch longer than 10 or 20 seconds. HR professionals are busy people.Antidote:Use drama to hook them right away. This one is funny not very professional but full of drama, Rays RésuméUse video testimonials from past bosses or old co -workers for social proofShow footage of your old companys offices, websites or products to visually represent your experiencesDont just tell them about it be creative and find a way to demonstrate what you do well. One of my favorite examples of this:   Pizza Hut Résumé Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Video Résumé Mistake 2: Ignore Your PersonalityYour personality is going to be one of the ONLY things that differentiate you in todays employers market. Believe me, there will always be someone more experienced, more educated, and more qualified than you. But there will never be another you.Stare at the camera and rattle on about your education and youll be shut down FAST.AntidoteFocus on character development, Bens Résumé focuses on personality up frontHow does your video image tie into your brand? Guatams Résumé is in black white, and remains professional,   yet manages to communicate why he is different from everyone else.Heres a perfect example of PERSONALITY:   How Geeks Look for WorkVideo Résumé Mistake 3: Single ShotMost video résumés are single shot and single take, even though most computers these days come with free video editing software (yes, even Windows comes with this stuff these days).Film is supposed to be visually interesting, so even if you dont want to use a soundtrack, you should at least use a B-Roll. B-roll is when you cut away to another image to create a sense of transition, and more practically to cover up a bad take.Antidote:Film your résumé in at least two locations and cut between both on the final productDont be afraid to use headlines and subtitles in the film to create context and transitionVary your costume and setting to create an illusion of the passing of timeJust Do ItChances are you are not going to get it right the first time. Most people take the easy way out, put on a suit and tie, stare at the camera, and read. This is a cop-out. Put some effort into your video presentation.Your first results may be terrible. But keep trying.My friend and fellow Social Media Trainer Laura Roeder is fond of saying that if you are comfortable on film, then practice getting better. If you are not comfortable, then practice getting comfortable.If you are inspired to start your video résumé, Id love to see! Please send me the link in the comments below.