Looking for a new way to show your interviewer or potential employer that you’re a cut above the rest? Thinking about sending in a video resume to prove your point?  Before you press “RECORD” you might want to hear what recruiters and employers really think about the onset of video resumes and how effective they are at landing you that dream job. While there are many different opinions regarding the use of video resumes (especially after many job posting websites such as CareerBuilder have removed these applications from their sites, stating it was because the market was not yet ready for them), most recruiters seem to agree that there are a few issues one should consider before setting up the camcorder.

1.  Make Sure You Know Who’s Watching

One of the principle problems with video resumes is that the identity of the person watching these videos (and whether or not this is the same person who you want to be seeing the video) is often unknown.  According to Jon Mufson, owner of the executive search firm Mufson Associates, Inc. , “once you put your resume out there, especially on job boards, you have little control over where it is being viewed; now, it’s the same with the video resume.” In fact, even if you send your video resume directly to the company, Mufson notes, “you have to consider corporate online tracking and the fact that your video resume may not even be opened up, due to fears of computer viruses.”

Garth A. DeBevoise, Account Director at The Gerard Alexander Consulting Group, also notes the problems that occur when video resumes get into too many hands. “Sometimes a recruiter or job posting site with no conscience  will receive a video resume and send it out to every person they can think of. They are all seeing this same video, and they think ‘this guy is desperate for a job.’” This, in turn, makes employers much less likely to want to hire this person.

2.  Know Your Intended Audience

Although many recruiters foresee numerous issues with the use of video resumes, such as over-marketing, under marketing, and the opportunity to screen out undesirables on the basis of gender, race, or physical attractiveness, there are many positives as well, assuming you know enough about your potential employer and/or his or her company. DeBevoise notes that “depending on the position you’re applying for, using a video resume can be a great way to get your foot in the door, some companies are just more buttoned up than others. For example, if you’re looking for a position with a younger ‘hip’ company, a video resume may be the perfect way to give them that ‘wow’ factor.” Similarly, Andrea Sobo, V.P. of Mufson Associates, Inc. , notes that “a video resume can be a good idea if you are applying to a position on the more creative side”. Additionally, Sobo states that for those looking for positions in fields such as creative marketing it’s important to include “PDF portfolios or links to their personal websites; it’s really helpful to see a copy or sampling of their work”.

3.  Know what to include and what to leave out

If, after all things considered, you do decide to construct a video resume, make sure you are well aware of how you are presenting yourself to your potential employer. As DeBevoise, states “while some employers may think its really creative to have Bush’s ‘The Chemicals Between Us’ playing in the background while you talk about why you are interested in a position in chemical engineering, others may not.” Mufson, in line with DeBevoise, notes that it’s imperatively important to know your audience and “make sure the video resume comes across as clean, from a visual and auditory perspective.” Similarly, Sobo suggests that whether you are sending out a more traditionally formulated resume or a video resume, “keep it as professional as possible.”

After hearing what professional recruiters had to say, it is clear that the most important thing to remember if you are considering using a video resume is “know your audience.”  Lastly, while most recruiters reported seeing video resumes used very rarely (especially for higher level positions), it seems that there still may be some place for them in the world of job searching, provided they are constructed in a creative and professional manner and marketed effectively to a few targeted employers.

But we want to hear from you guys.  Have you ever submitted a video resume?  Would you ever create one?  Do you think it’s a viable alternative to a paper resume or completely unprofessional?  Let us know in the comments section!

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