One of the best ways to get a potential employer's attention is to send them a video CV. The video will perfectly complement your text CV, help you get ahead of other candidates, and eventually get the job. In this article, you will find useful tips on how to make a video CV, what software to use, and where to post it to get a job from home.

 

What is a video CV, and why do you need one?

A video CV is a short story about oneself recorded on camera. In the video, the candidate explains why they are worth hiring and how they would benefit the company. Usually, the video is sent along with a text CV to stand out from the crowd and get you to the interview.

In a time when companies are moving massively online and looking for talent for telecommuting, a video CV can be a great help. It allows candidates to tell more about themselves before talking to a recruiter. For employers, it allows them to see the applicant and assess their communication skills without having to meet them in person.

A good video definitely increases the chances of success. At the very least, you will be remembered and added to the database. But you should be prepared beforehand, and there are a lot of details to make it a helpful tool in your job search.

 

6 tips for creating a video CV

The job market is saturated, with big employers looking at hundreds of CVs a day. To stand out from the crowd, you can record a video to complement a traditional CV. The key is to get it right.

 

1. Make sure the video CV is relevant to the job

Don't just put your CV out there in the middle of nowhere. Apply for a specific position at a specific company, record a video that's relevant to the job.

In your video, you can reflect on professional topics. This will add value to you in the eyes of HR.

 

2. Don't read out your profile

A video resume should reveal and showcase you. Reading out your bio is a waste of other people's time. Show the employer not what you have already achieved but what you can achieve in the company. And, if possibleб in the case of a specific job, feel free to talk about your hobbies.

 

3. Keep your CV short

When you have finished working on the text for your video, take a moment and read what you have got out loud. Your video presentation should be between 30 seconds and 1.30 minutes. Of course, editing your own text is difficult, but it must be done; otherwise, you run the risk of the video not being seen through to the end and possibly not even being watched because of the long timeline.

 

4. Be creative

Perhaps the most important question in creating your own video presentation is “how to become unique?” It's simple. Write a short free-form essay about yourself. Don't try to retell your text CV — that's for the employer to read. Rather, give examples of interesting tasks that you have worked on and tell them how you have solved them in an unconventional way. You can also share your views on trends in the field as a whole to get a digital marketing job, for example. In the essay, you can mention your hobbies and even joke about professional topics, but don't get too carried away: your main task is to reveal yourself as a professional.

5. Make sure your resume passes the selection

So, when the text is finished, you can start filming. The first thing you need to think about is the video. The simplest option is you at your desk or on a walk in the park. However, as with writing, it all depends on your imagination and relevance. Also, if you have examples of your work to showcase in your presentation speech, feel free to put them in. Another important point is your pronunciation. It is better to learn the text by heart rather than reading it from a piece of paper. Don't be lazy and check with a dictionary to see if you're pronouncing specific words correctly.

 

6. A video CV should look professional

If you record a webcam video of yourself in your bedroom, you might save money, but it's unlikely to impress an employer.

It may sound obvious, but a video resume should look professional. The HR needs to see and hear you clearly in order to get a good impression.

The background of the video should therefore be minimalist and clean. The quality of the video should be good and there should not be any distracting sounds in the background, drowning out your voice. It is advisable to wear casual business clothing.

Luckily, many modern smartphones can record professional-quality footage, even on a small budget. So if you try hard enough, you can easily record a resume that looks professional without spending a lot of money.

A quality video resume can grab an employer's attention and make you a memorable candidate. When you have recorded your video, make sure you show it to friends, family, or colleagues and ask for their opinion. Their criticism can help you to refine the final version and avoid mistakes.

 

Free tools for filming and editing

You don't have to rent a studio and buy expensive gadgets to make a good video. You can shoot it on your webcam or phone and edit it for free with handy apps and services. Read this article to get acquainted with the most popular.

 

Conclusion

A video CV is an additional tool for self-presentation and job-seeking. It does not, of course, guarantee that you will get the job right away. But a well-recorded video will definitely make you stand out from other applicants and complement a standard CV. A straightforward CV will help employers assess your credentials, while a video resume will expose you as a person in just a few minutes. It will showcase your communication skills , stress tolerance, and creativity.