How to Create Your Video Resume in 2022

So, you’ve heard video resumes are all the rage. Many employers already require applicants to answer questions on video before an interview. Plus, everything eventually moves over to video-based platforms in due time. You may as well be ahead of the curve.

A video resume can help you display strengths that don’t show on a traditional resume, such as your enthusiasm, professionalism, and communication skills.

76% of recruiters say they would watch a video resume**, compared to the mere 6 seconds they spend on the average resume. A video resume earns you additional attention, while allowing you to break the monotony for recruiters and connect as a human.

You are more than your resume. It’s up to you to show them.

When the recruiter sees your enthusiasm, smile, and professionalism, it allows them to imagine you handing a customer, or just being pleasant to work with. Recruiters want to hire someone who will make a good co-worker. Your video pitch allows you to signal that’s you, and there’s strong research backing it up.

 

The data on video applications

The University of Chicago studied how 30 recruiters from Microsoft, Deloitte, and Goldman Sachs responded to applicants who submitted a verbal pitch vs. a cover letter.

Recruiters thought the applicants with the verbal pitch were 54% more intelligent and were 62% more interested in hiring them*. The twist? The wording of the cover letters and verbal pitches was the same, so that the variable was simply the format the recruiters received the pitch in.

A 54% advantage is a big deal. So I have to ask: Why wouldn’t you include a video pitch with your application?

Watch a clip of my interview with Juliana Schroeder, a researcher on the study, below:

 

 

A recruiter's perspective on video pitches

Recruiters constantly endure wasted interviews with unenthusiastic candidates. Employers want to feel like they are your dream employer, not 1 of 200 companies you applied at. Your video pitch is your chance to show you’re passionate about their company and won’t take an interview for granted. They won’t have this assurance from competing applicants.

Recruiters are more likely to interview & hire someone they connect with. Unless you went to the same school, you won't connect with them from your resume alone. But when they hear that why their company matters to you, and that you read and fit their job description, it’s easy to picture you as an ideal co-worker.

Can a video resume replace my traditional resume?

A video pitch can't replace your resume, but it can replace your cover letter. Employers need a traditional resume to compare your employment and education history with other candidates. They're also unlikely to have the attention-span or time to watch a 5-minute video resume.

Instead, give them a 30-45 second video pitch. If you were serious about the company, you were probably planning on writing a cover letter. As you likely know, the goal of a cover letter is to express why you chose their company and that you match their job description. This is what you can replace with an employer-targeted video pitch.

If you're a recruiter who's already read 50 covers today, would you rather read the 51st cover letter or watch a 30-second video pitch?

You guessed right. And the University of Chicago's research shows that your chances of landing the job are about 62% better with a video pitch than the cover letter.

 

Video application instructions:

What you say in your video pitch matters, but not as much as how you say it. If you try to memorize and recite your pitch word-for-word, showing passion may be difficult. SafeHire provides a bullet-point outline you can easily customize, then use like a teleprompter while recording.

In any case, here’s a list to help you create your video pitch:

Do:

• Set your camera at eye-level. It shouldn't look up or down at your face.
• Keep lighting in front of you, not behind you.
• Dress as you would for a job interview.
• Keep your attention on the camera.
• Show your enthusiasm and smile.
• Practice your pitch at least 3-4 times. Nobody's first recording is their best.

Don't:

• Rush through your pitch.
• Read your outline from the screen. Use your outline as a reference while recording.
• Let your pitch last longer than a minute.
• Have a messy/distracting background.
• Repeat your resume.
• Say something that is likely true of every applicant for the job.

 

Ways to share your video pitch

mp4 file:

• Your computer will have a Camera or Quicktime Player application. You can use these apps to record your video, then attach the mp4 file with your application. In this case, you'll likely want to remember a few bullet points to cover, rather than memorizing a script.

YouTube/Vimeo:

• Many employers will feel more comfortable opening an HTTPS (secure) webpage than an unknown file. After creating an account, upload your mp4 file and share your video's URL link with employers on your resume.
• CAUTION: Be certain that your profile isn't linked to other videos that you wouldn't want employers to see.

SafeHire:

• If memorizing a script or free-styling isn’t for you, SafeHire is your best bet. We provide a customizable bullet-point outline, and allow you to use it like a teleprompter. Your SafeHire profile also allows you to gather & share validated employer/professor testimonials, soft skill assessment results, and more.

 

Employers don't receive video applications often. When they do, they notice.

You don't have to be just another resume.


* The Sound of Intellect Research
** LinkedIn and Microsoft Skills Commitment