r e s u m a k e r s !

Video resumes are preposterous. Why?

1) There’s a reason we don’t put our pictures on a resume — it makes people focus on your appearance rather than your qualifications. It also unfortunately opens the door for people to discriminate against you based on age, color, gender, attractiveness quotient… whatever. And, it’s just downright tacky. A video resume is all these things and more.

2) I’d venture a guess to say that few of us have the skills to develop an interesting, attractive, and short video resume that actually communicates the information about ourselves we want to get across. Heck — not many of us can write a good traditional resume.

3) Video resumes are BORING! It takes longer to watch a video resume than it does to skim a traditional one. I hardly made it through one of the many I’ve perused on YouTube–the employers are not going to hear the information you want them to know about you. All they’re going to know is that you made a crappy, self-indulgent video.

4) You look a fool. Plain and simple.

Don’t believe me? Then watch this video:

Did YOUR mind wander halfway through this boring video? Mine sure did. And this one was better than half of the others floating around on YouTube! So please, folks: if your voice makes you sound like a pre-teen who would rather be watching Hannah Montana, do yourself a favor and OPT OUT. (Sheesh!)

So, then. My suggestions surrounding a video resume:

• Don’t do one unless you would use those same skills on your job, i.e., you’re into computers, video editing, the web, that kind of stuff.
• Know. How. To. Do. A. Good. Job.
• Wait a few years! There will be better tools and more knowledge in a few years on how to make a GOOD video resume, and how to use it.

Still stuck on it? Then for crying out loud — keep it short, look presentable, be confident, and include a link to your online resume!