Why You Need a Video Resume to Land Your Next Job

By: Shaye DiPasquale

Remember when Elle Woods sent her infamous video resume to the enrollment committee at Harvard Law School? It was so different that it stood out in the large pool of talented applicants.

Nearly 20 years later, video resumes are a real thing. From Netflix to Tik Tok, we spend so much time watching (and creating) video content (by 2021, 81% of all global internet traffic will be video!). And now video may even be the future of recruitment. Recruiting and hiring were already moving online before the COVID crisis and now remote jobs are also undoubtedly increasing across industries, but especially so in media and communications where we can do most of our work with just a laptop and an internet connection. Video resumes are especially popular in roles where the ability to perform is important (broadcast journalism, influencer marketing), but are becoming increasingly popular in sales, marketing, and media roles.

“I applied for a marketing job at a physical therapy practice; they wanted me to pitch them in 60 seconds why I was the person for the role. I had my son do the recording on my iPhone,” says Carrie Havranek, a food writer and editor on the job hunt. She didn’t get the marketing gig, but she does think her video resume scored her an interview she may not have gotten otherwise. “I would do it again—you can really convey your personality on video.”

“Think of a video resume as a version of the pre-pandemic elevator pitch,” says Chandra Turner, a recruiter, career coach, and founder of Talent Fairy. “Your goal is to creatively sell yourself, your skills, and your personal brand in a short amount of time.”

No, we aren’t suggesting you send a future employer a video discussing the plotline of Days Of Our Lives while floating on a raft in a pool like Elle. But maybe you can try harnessing your creativity to produce a professional video resume that shows hiring managers who you are as a person — and as a potential employee.

3 Reasons You Should Make a Video Resume:

It’s a way to present yourself to a hiring manager “face-to-face” before you meet IRL.
It shows the hiring manager that you are forward-thinking, tech-savvy, and willing to put in the extra work to make a great first impression.
It’s a great supplement to your traditional resume; you can include a link to it on your resume or in your LinkedIn profile.

Of course, not every hiring manager will be open to the idea, or even realize it’s a trend, notes Turner. “Pick and choose what brands you think will be receptive. A Fortune 500 legacy corporation in the financial sector? Perhaps not,” she says. “But a startup in the lifestyle space? A website geared to Mills or Gen Y? Definitely!”

After all, you likely do have extra time on your hands these days (and family around to help with the shooting!). And with a job market that’s looking to be tighter than it’s been since the great recession, it’s definitely worth experimenting with ways to stand out in a pool of applicants. Ready to give it a shot? Read our post on how to knock your video resume out of the park.

This article was originally published on Ed2010.com and shared with Making it in Manhattan in partnership with the Ed2010 Team.