It seems that video résumé's are really gaining acceptance. This really is perfect for people in our industry. In addition to an online portfolio, it makes a lot of sense to have a video résumé.

Benefits of Video Résumés

• Practice your interview as many times as you need to and do as shoot as many takes as you need. Your comfort level in front of the camera will show, so keep that in mind. (Yes, you can call me Captain Obvious).
• Edit out your embarrassing flubs.
• Paint out any blemishes, cold sores or unsightly facial scars.
• Show off your mad lighting and shooting skillz. If you shoot over blue screen or green screen, you can show off your keying and compositing skills as well. Employers will notice how much effort you put into your video résumé.
• Present your personality in a way that a paper résumé doesn't allow (of course, this might work against you).
• Intersperse clips of your video work and explain them.
• Interview for jobs across the country without having to fly out there. If you're looking for artists, this is a nice way to check them out before initiating the interview process or paying for expensive flights to your city.
• You can possibly achieve a high level of exposure if you put your movie up on YouTube, MySpace or Google Video. Include links to your video résumé in emails, on your website and on your MySpace, Facebook, Linkedin, etc. and the employers will be knocking on your inbox before you know it.
• Video résumé's are still pretty new so it will show that you're on top of the wave.

The Downside

• If you're not too pretty or you're carrying around a few extra pounds, it might hurt your chances at a job. The media promotes an unattainable standard of beauty onto the public. I'm just sayin'.
• Your potential employer may have lousy bandwidth or an old computer with out-of-date software and can't view your video. Most of the people in this industry have high-speed, so I don't think this is a hot issue.
• YouTube and other video services don't have the best quality.
• Stalkers. No joke here, ladies. I don't think the men are at as much risk, but I've had a few men send inappropriate emails to me and it's creepy and unsettling.
• You need to keep it fresh, keep it up-to-date. It's not as easy to update as a text or pdf résumé.

Overall the benefits highly outweigh the downsidess of a video résumé. Have you created one? Please post a link in comments.

Labels: jobs, Tips