Why a Video Resume Isn’t Going to Land You That Dream Job

Photo credit: transcendent / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Video resumes are the newest rage in the job-searching world. Typically, these snippets are short (two to three minutes, which can seem much, much longer) and consist of an overly enthusiastic individual touting his or her skills—often with a totally cheesy, ridiculous, or over-the-top spin in a transparent attempt to be “exciting” and “attention-grabbing”. Those who don’t take this route usually end up in the “boring and uninspired” bucket. Almost all video resumes look completely amateur and, to be honest, are pretty embarrassing even for the viewer. Finding the right note to hit—somewhere between ridiculous and boring—is nearly impossible.

Even if you manage to produce a “good” one, video resumes, in my opinion, are just not the right move for serious job seekers. Here’s why:

Potential Discrimination

Many employers have expressed apprehension about viewing video resumes as it opens the door for potential discrimination charges: You didn’t hire me because I’m fat! You didn’t hire me because I’m ugly! Most video resumes also include WAY more information than any hiring manager really wants to know. For some reason, people seem to think that a video resume means they should include more personal information—like what they enjoy doing in their spare time, where they were born, their favorite food, etc. These things aren’t relevant and most employers don’t care.

If an employer actually does view your video resume—even with the most noble, unbiased intentions—there IS a potential for discrimination. It’s simply unavoidable. Even subconsciously, we all make judgments about others on the way they look, speak and move. We simply can’t turn that part of ourselves off, even when we have to for legal purposes. We can certainly deny that these things had any influence on our decision, but when you send a video resume, you’re essentially opening the door on a whole slew of potential reasons someone might not want to hire you. At least let them make that decision after meeting you in person. Give yourself the opportunity to overcome their biases one-on-one.

One Way Conversation

A video resume is not a two way conversation and it’s not a replacement for an in-person interview. It’s just you talking to an invisible viewer. We, as human beings, react and adapt to our surroundings. When we interact with others, good communicators will usually mirror the mannerisms of those around them, gauging body language and facial expressions. These things help us to intuitively “know” when we should keep talking, stop talking, change the subject, elaborate on the subject, and much more. Without that kind of feedback, you have no way of knowing whether you’re striking the right tone. You just have to trust that your one way conversation isn’t going completely off-course.

When it MIGHT be an OKAY idea…

The only circumstances I can think of in which you might find a video resume useful is when the skills necessary to do the job can be physically shown on the video. For example, if you’re applying to be a corporate trainer, you might get attention by submitting a video that shows you in front of a group doing your thing. Here’s an example from Theo Ramsey that is actually very well-done and appears to be appropriate for the person and the position.

Theo Ramsey’s Video Resume

And just for fun, here’s a great spoof video resume you might get a giggle out of from Michael Spafferty.

Michael Spafferty’s Video Resume Spoof