A Million People Saying a Foolish Thing…
January 11th, 2007…does not make it any less foolish.
About a year ago, I heard about someone creating a video resume. I thought then that it was an incredibly dumb idea, except in the RARE case that in the job you’re applying for, an appealing digitized image, and your ability to speak on camera, were required skills.
But now I note that the Wall Street Journal has written an article about some people using this technique. They profile one person who created such a thing, and the story suggests that offers rained down on her.
This story is anecdotal. The idea is still horrendously dumb.
I will give you ONE reason why you should NOT, under ANY circumstances, create a video resume, no matter how desperate things in your search appear. I need only give one because it crushes the idea under its boot heel. But rest assured I have many more.
You are not CNN.
But that is who the recruiter will compare you to.
The video product you create will be compared to the most recent example the recruiter has of a professional speaking on camera, to a camera: the news media. Those video images are professionally produced by staffs of hundreds, with million dollar equipment, the best professional editing in the world, and sound quality that is unmatched. You will look like a dork, even if you think you’re so very cool.
I had posted about this in the forums a few weeks ago, I think, and was hoping that the silly trend would go away, and I wouldn’t have to say anything else. But then the Journal got in on the act.
Do not do this thing. The million fool chorus will end in tears.
A bad resume on paper is better than a good resume in video.
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January 11th, 2007 at 6:03 am
At first, I thought you may be wrong. There are execptions like auditioning for American Idols and what not. On second thought, I think you are right - otherwise I don’t think we have ‘William Huang’.
January 11th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Mark, as usual you comments are oh so true and reason number 2 is that the best of the worst end up on youtube
January 11th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Mark, unlike Harry, I first thought you were right but then pondered this more. The biggest problem I encounter is trying to find that special something buried in a professionally written 1 page CV. Making a (realtively large) assumption that the person is not a complete idiot and the video is not the deranged child of a camera phone, then I can well see a visual personal statement being a useful adjunct to the paper CV.
January 11th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Mike-
Diversity of thought is good!
Where I am making the distinction is perhaps summed up by your phrase, “useful adjunct.” The vast majority of folks I know are incredibly discriminating (including you) in terms of who you want to spend time interviewing. I think “useful adjunct” is not only a concept that would cause people to create less than professional efforts/videos, it would, for managers be seen as, Yeah, that’s useful… I know now not to interview them.
Most people are not good on camera and don’t know it.
Why give managers MORE of something you’re not good at?
Mark
January 11th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Hi, I totally agree with Mark.
).
I received such kind of CV and it was terrible. It was clear that they just edited some pieces of the wiritten cv on the left side while the person was explaining about herself on the right (no mentionsa about task responsabilities and accomplishments
No care of the clothes, hair etc. Very bad.
Another reason why I think it is not a good idea to send this kind of CV is that we know how the first impact is important, and if I have apply for a job, I would like to manage “live” this critical step.
Vadim
January 12th, 2007 at 1:20 am
Unless this is a standard practice in the industry you are applying for, I believe there is no middle ground. It’s either going to be an absoulte success, or put you in the trash can.
I just finished reviewing 126 applications for four positions. To be honest, when I started screening I was looking for minimum requirements for the position, if they wern’t in the right place, I didn’t go looking for them in the rest of the submission. If anyone had submitted a video it probably wouldn’t have been much more than a distraction. If you have to leave your desk to look at it, or figure out how to make it work, it won’t get you far.
Jeff
January 12th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Jeff makes a very important point. All the theory in the world, all the great ideas, about something like resumes and interviews, can be worse than worthless when you actually insert them into the real lives of managers.
I can’t tell you how many videos I’ve been given over the years by people trying to sell me stuff. I’m sure they assumed that the novelty plus the fact that they went to all that trouble would motivate me to watch. But the fact is, I would set it on my desk - no vcr here - and just never watch.
I got a DVD recently, of a CEO’s 6 month corporate update. I didn’t look at it for weeks.
Managers just aren’t going to use them, and if they do, they’re going to not like the quality.
Mark
February 18th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
I have to disagree with your finishing statement: A bad resume on paper is better than a good resume on video.
In principle a video resume does carry with it significant risk for the potential candidate. But done well, I can see how as a recruiter I might find it impressive; even more impressive than a bad resume on paper.
I have two main reasons. It shows initiative, and differentiation. (Remember, I am assuming it was done well)
It is getting increasingly difficult for me to differentiate myself from others on paper (Even though I think I am a standout candidate). I think for the right position, I would definitely consider a video resume as an accompaniment to the paper version.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:17 am
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