Video Resume – Helpful Tips Series

Part One: Creating your Script

 Should you Do-It-Yourself or Use a Professional?

If you’ve decided to get started on creating a video resume – congratulations, you are ahead of your competition!  Once you embark on this mission you’ll find there are a myriad of decisions you will need to make.  Like, whether to do it yourself, or use a professional.  If you do use a professional, how much help will you need?  What will you put into your video and once completed where you will post it to attract the most opportunity?  Part one of this ‘helpful tips” series will provide you with information on developing the message and script you will need for your video resume and help you decide whether to use a professional to assist you with this piece or do-it-yourself.

One thing is for sure, it is critical that you take the time to develop a quality video resume.  Otherwise, it will do more harm than good in managing your online visibility and professional career.  We can’t stress enough that your video is a “make or break first impression” of who you are in your profession. There are many elements that you will need to consider in order to ensure your video is created using best practice standards.   One of these elements is to create a quality script – you don’t want to wing it here.

Your Script

You may believe that you will be more natural if you just turn the camera on and ‘wing it’, just saying what comes to mind in the moment – and at times that can be very true. However, when you only have a few seconds to grab your viewer’s attention, it is in your best interest to create a powerful message and practice delivering it until you can convey it naturally.  There are numerous reasons that it is vital for you to have a script and one of them is that the viewers of your video are busy and want good, solid concrete information about your value-add as quickly as possible.  If you decide to ‘wing’ your conversation you may very well lose your viewer to your competition.  Trust us, after watching and critiquing loads of video resumes, the last thing a busy recruiter wants to here is disconnected verbiage with lots of uh’s and um’s stumbling through the video content.  So, prepare a powerful, scripted message and practice for a natural, easy flowing delivery.

Messaging

Here is where many people make the biggest mistake – they think that the video resume is actually a read of their written resume in brief.  This could not be more untrue.  The video resume would be more aptly referred to as a ‘video introduction’.  It is your chance to let the viewer know what makes you different and how you will impact their organization in a positive way.  How you will fit in with their culture and what difference you will make to their organization based on your skill set.  It is a completely new level of the resume – resume 2.0 if you will. 

There are numerous ways you can impart your value in your messaging.  One of them is through your energy level and the delivery of your professional stories – or how you have influenced outcomes in your previous professional endeavors.  This is where you need to hook your viewer so that they want more of what you are saying.  Remember, stay focused on the reason behind your video resume which is to obtain an in-person interview and/or discussion around a possible career opportunity.

Do-it-Yourself or use a Professional

You certainly can create an impactful video resume yourself.  We have no doubt that there are those out there that are extremely capable when it comes to uncovering their talents and expressing those in a meaningful way, based on the opportunities they wish to attract.  However, there are those of you who may not see the ‘forest through the trees’ so to speak, and would like to get either a consult in creating the messaging you will deliver in your video resume, or at the very least a guide that will help you each step of the way.  We are here for all of your needs in the creation of this powerful career tool.  Our services range from critiquing your self-made video, to working with you to create your message and script, all the way to the actual video shoot.  Check out our services page and be sure to read the rest of the ‘helpful tips’ series for additional assistance.

Best of luck to you!

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