Video Resumes: are They Really Hurting You?

Video resumes seem to be gaining a lot of mediaWhat is a person to do in order to get a competitive
exposure these days. Many of the websites thatadvantage in the job market then? First, a video is not
provide the video resume services have really beengoing to really show the employer any more about
pushing the need to have such an 'edge' over the restyour accounting skills than what your job experience is
of the competition. So what do the potential employerslike. The best way to really be 'seen' and experienced
really think about these new services? Well, afteris through face-to-face contact. This is easy for me to
hearing from prospective employers searching forsay, but the employers that I know do attend industry
applicants, one did mention the new and well-hypedevents regularly and meet new people as well as
video resume. However, he did not mention anythingprospective employees regularly. There is no really
wonderful and amazing about the individuals heeasy way to get the job that a person has always
observed. He only mentioned the humorous thingswanted. There will always be competition. And with
about them versus any serious attributes to theplenty of competition there will always be no substitute
individuals on the videos. Some things mentioned aboutfor hard work in the industry you have chosen. Tennis
the videos is just the lack of preparation, annoyingskills are great, but only if that is where you can meet
habits and gestures, terrible quality of editing whichthe individuals who can really help you get ahead in
makes the video hard to watch, as well as themany cases. Gaining any kind of experience in the field
common embarrassing problems associated witha person is really after is what the employers are
'home videos'. The question now is: are the videosearching for.
resumes really hurting the job applicants making themOverall, the hiring experience can be difficult for both
rather than giving them that competitive 'edge' they arethe employer and the applicant. Both sides have needs
supposed to have?to be filled. The employer in the IT department just
Many of us have already seen, or at least heardneeds someone who can handle the tasks and
about, the video of the young man applying for a jobproblem solving skills needed to complete the job in the
on Wall Street as a banker where he bench pressesmost excellent manner. The video resumes have not
very impressive amounts of weight, plays tennis and,been much help to him as they only show individuals
well, you get the picture. This seems to be taken totalking about themselves and how they can function.
the extreme, but it was actually supposed to be aHowever, when the employer does call in an
message to the employer about his sense of discipline.employee for an interview, they also have them
Oops! I guess they misunderstood him as he did notcomplete a test which really shows the applicants'
receive any attention except from the news media.problem solving abilities. So, with this being said, will
The attention he received was only from a merevideo resumes really take a competitive position in the
entertainment standpoint. Many of the videos that areresume market? Hollywood has been using them for
available do indeed appear to be more of anyears now in the form of video headshots. But, then
embarrassing moment than that of a competitiveagain, these would be used for show business jobs
edge. The concept of the video resume seems to bewhere looks really matter. Focus on building experience
quite impressive at first glance. And maybe after a littleand a great resume, as well as attending those
more time, it will become a norm in hiring newindustry events and soon job seekers will find many
employees. But the fact of the matter today is thatmore wonderful opportunities before them. Now that
employers are not really looking towards videowould be quite a competitive advantage.
resumes at this point.