Heather HuhmanVideo resumes aren’t just helping job seekers stand out from the crowd. These profile videos are also assisting employers in making better hiring decisions faster. Unlike a traditional resume, video resumes also allow you to see personality and communication skills in candidates.
With 8.2 percent unemployment and more job seekers applying for every open position, you just don’t have the time to give everyone a phone screen. Now video resumes are allowing employers to get this same insight without ever picking up the phone. In 60 seconds, you’ll know whether or not the candidate should move on to the next step of the hiring process.
But what exactly makes a video resume great? Here are some things top candidates are doing in their video resumes to put themselves ahead of the pack:
Confidence!
Confidence is key for great video resumes. After all, the reason video profiles are so helpful in hiring is because they allow employers to see communication skills sooner than in the traditional process. Considering that 55 percent of a first impression is based on body language and nonverbal cues, it’s essential for candidates to radiate confidence.
Look for candidates who are calm, poised, and well spoken. Candidates who avoid filler words like “um” and “like” are less nervous and more put together. If a candidate can’t even handle the pressure of recording a video resume, how will they handle the pressures of your workplace?
Dressing for Success
One of the major mistakes candidates make in both their video resumes and video interviews is not dressing for the part. A great candidate will dress for success, even if it’s just for a video resume. They will look prepared to meet you in person or to handle an important meeting. A casually dressed candidate is giving the implicit message they don’t care enough to dress up. A well-dressed candidate, on the other hand, is showing they are thoughtful and conscientious.
Background from the Background
Similarly, there is a lot of background you can glean about a candidate just from the background of their video resume. Staging is vitally important, as we’ve talked about before from the employer side when scheduling a video interview. It’s even more important for candidates recording a video resume. Is there adequate lighting? Is the background neutral and uncluttered? If it is, you know the candidate took the time to stage a suitable background. If your talented candidate is speaking to you in front of a scene from Hoarders, you know this person isn’t as detail-oriented as they claim.
Quantifiable Statements
The best candidates will use their video resume to make quantifiable statements about their qualifications and experience. Instead of the candidate merely stating they have superior leadership skills, a great candidate will give you an example of a time they successfully lead a project. Great candidates know the video resume format is best used to give concrete examples.
Organizational Fit
One of the most important reasons to use video resumes in your hiring process is to really hone in on organizational fit. With one in four companies pegging the cost of rehiring over $50,000, it’s more important than ever to get candidates who will thrive in your workplace. Video resumes allow employers to see personality sooner, helping you to only move forward with candidates who will fit into the overall organization. The best candidates will show during their video resume their ability to thrive in the company, whether the culture is fun and goofy or serious and focused.
Video resumes are helping employers find great candidates and move them along more quickly in the hiring process. If you focus on the best candidates doing everything right in their video resumes, you’ll soon be hiring great employees.
What are some things you look for in a great video resume? Share in the comments!
IMAGE: Courtesy of Flickr by mofetos
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