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#JobSearch : How a Video Résumé Can Get You Hired in the Covid-19 Job Market. GReat REad!

Video résumés are fast becoming the new cover letter for a certain breed of young creatives. Some, like Jay Beech, are even landing jobs with them.

When the 26-year-old Londoner lost his job in May, he turned to a format and a platform that he had become well-acquainted with during the pandemic: short-form video on TikTok. Strutting in a fur coat and white-heeled boots, he made a musical appeal to hiring managers set to the tune of “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross : “I can create content…and pay my bloody rent,” he crooned.

It worked. In addition to his homage to disco, Mr. Beech also made a straightforward, professional accounting of his skills in a separate video shared to his LinkedIn profile. Within weeks, he was hired as a marketing creative for Crowdfunder UK, the digital fundraising platform. The company credits the videos with catching its attention.

Video résumés have proliferated this year, as TikTok and LinkedIn launched special visual platforms to connect job candidates with hundreds of companies and recruiters. The style of such videos range from lighthearted and unconventional to straightforward elevator pitches to a potential boss. Some, like Mr. Beech’s, are elaborately scripted performances, while others look and sound like a written résumé read aloud, selfie-style, to a cellphone camera—recounting an alma mater, job experience and ideal role.

“They all saw it and they knew exactly who I was,” Mr. Beech said of the reaction to his video résumés. “I have tattoos, I have a very out-there look and I have a bold personality that I want to bring to the office with me, and I don’t want to join a job where those traits of mine aren’t accepted.”

Simon Deverell, founder and creative director of Crowdfunder UK, hired Mr. Beech and said he wants his employees to have an attitude and opinions. Mr. Beech’s video “was more viral than anything we’ve done,” he said. “He didn’t apply for the job. I approached him because I saw what he’d done.”

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, LLc (FSC) is celebrating over 30 years in the delivery of corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 of our corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, UK, & Mexico!  

We here at FSC want to thank each of corporate partners in the opportunity in serving & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment !

 

Article continued …

 

Career coaches say more employers were starting to ask for video résumés or cover letters as a part of the hiring process, particularly in creative industries, when the pandemic made most of the hiring world pivot to video interviews. That trend sped up the appetite for full-blown video résumés, too, said Martin Compton, a freelance events producer in the U.K., who created a video for LinkedIn Cover Story, which is displayed on his profile.

“I’ve got to do as much as possible to widen my network, so all these agencies that I want to work for know that I’m open to working with new technologies, that I’m comfortable with video,” he said.

The TikTok Resumes pilot program, which launched in early July, encouraged job seekers to create short-form video résumés for open positions at 40 partner companies, including Shopify Inc., Sweetgreen, Alo Yoga and Nascar. Hundreds of job postings were advertised on the platform, from sales roles to data scientist and financial analyst positions.

For some brands, soliciting video résumés on social media is a way to meet more young, diverse job candidates. A quippy, personality-driven video is a good alternative for some early-career job seekers who have had less time to build out a traditional résumé, said Adrienne Gemperle, chief people officer of Sweetgreen, a chain of salad restaurants in expansion mode that was hiring for shift managers and a growth analytics position, among others.

“This has unlocked a way for our candidates to share their passions and their personalities, and to let them shine in a culturally relevant format,” she said.

Taylor Haywood, 16, used a TikTok résumé to land a part-time social-media specialist position at a Gen Z consulting firm. She said it took three days to shoot the video, but it was worth it.

“I felt so seen because I felt like this video really did represent me as a person, me as a worker and me as a content creator,” she said.

Brands that fish for applicants from video résumés might attract more Gen Z consumers as well as workers, said Karin Lewis, a career counselor in Toronto. But creating a good highlight reel isn’t always easy, even for younger job seekers who may think they are adept at shooting video, she added, recalling one applicant who filmed his video résumé outside in his pajamas.

“Interviewing is hard enough at the best of times, but having to develop a script and to speak to a dead camera on the other side is really probably harder,” Ms. Lewis said.

Career coaches and people who have made effective video résumés recommend weighing the pros and cons of the medium. While video can capture personality and give a person the ability to steer their narrative—for instance by explaining a résumé gap—they can take a lot of time to shoot, edit and polish, drawing out the application process. Video résumés posted to TikTok or other platforms can also lead employers straight to an applicant’s social media pages, so hiring experts suggest making sure those are cleaned up and professional.

The rise of video résumés is spawning new concerns about hiring discrimination, several workplace experts said. The trend runs counter to recent efforts many companies have been making, such as removing names and photos from résumés, as they try to stop any unconscious bias from creeping into the process, said Carolyn Kleiman, a career coach at ResumeBuilder.com.

“Now, you’re asking for a video where you’re going to see me and you’re going to hear me. That immediately opens the door for some bias,” she said. “How will companies get around that? I don’t know. I’m not sure if they know.”

Jade Walters, a 21-year-old job seeker who recently created a video résumé, said that, as a Black woman, the possibility of racial bias is always in the back of her mind. She has embraced video résumés anyway, she said, because she sees the format as a way to play up her strengths.

I was able to really showcase my creativity,” she said. “There’s only so much that someone can get to know of me from my [written] résumé.”

Last month Ms. Walters made a 54-second TikTok video, featuring animated text and cheery graduation photos coupled with voice-over narration explaining her credentials: a degree from Howard University, participation in the Iota Phi Lambda business sorority and her on-campus and internship experiences. She capped off the video by saying, “I hope someone finds this.”

By mid-July she had heard from a recruiter on TikTok and had several more interviews thanks to other recruiters who saw her video circulating on LinkedIn. In early August she accepted a job offer as a media planner, and said she owes it to her video résumé.

 

WSJ.com | Aug 20, 2021 | Alex Janin

#JobSearch : Five Steps For Nailing Your Video Interview, No Matter What Your Age. The Whole Key to a Job Search is Mindset, No Matter What your Age.

In today’s remote working reality, an online presence can be a two-edged sword. Done right, and you own the space. Done haphazardly, and your professional persona could be doomed. If you are interviewing for a job in this competitive COVID-19 environment, mastering online presence is critical. If you are an older candidate, it is non-negotiable.

“The job search can leave us feeling especially vulnerable,” said Natalie Venturi, an executive presence coach. “Because most job interviews today are over Zoom, feeling confident and self-assured makes it easier to focus on connecting with the interviewer and leaving no doubt that you can do the job.”

Due to stereotypes about candidates age 50+ not being tech savvy, mastering an online presence is even more important. Showing comfort on camera and easily navigating remote tools helps you own the space.

Venturi outlines five critical areas to help you nail your next video interview.

Intention: Take a few minutes to consider the outcome you want from the interview. How do you want to show up? What one thing do you want to project more than anything else? While your intention might be nailing the interview and getting the job, Venturi recommends that you focus on what you can control. Perhaps you want to convey focus, curiosity, engagement, or authenticity. Whatever the intention, write it down to help you remember. Let that be the last thing you reflect on before starting the interview.

 

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What Skill Sets Do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Article continued …

Interview Prep: When you research the company, take note of the organization’s values. How can you align your values to theirs with examples of your work? What kind of stories can you tell to emphasize those values in action? Personal examples are powerful, but Venturi cautions brevity – no more than 60 seconds for each response. Once you feel ready, record a mock interview with a friend. Watch it afterward to evaluate where you have room for improvement.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.

On-Camera Set Up: Before the interview, take a moment to notice your surroundings. How do you look on screen? Your set up should allow you to look straight into the camera, versus up or down. Lighting and background are crucial, according to Venturi, who suggests you skip the virtual background and opt for a solid backdrop instead. Youtube offers plenty of short tutorials on background, lighting, webcam, sound, and clothing choices – like this one from the Wall Street Journal. Before the interview begins, test your on-camera presence, check sound, and make adjustments as necessary.

Physicality: Physicality is about how you take up space. Show engagement by leaning into the camera instead of sitting further back. Use a chair without arms to allow yourself to move more freely. Physicality is also about your appearance and how you sound. Whiten your teeth, enunciate your words and dress for the part –but don’t wear a suit unless you are in banking or finance.

Energy: Everything is energy, according to Venturi. Engage with energy. Use your intention to project the kind of energy that leaves recruiters and hiring managers feeling comfortable in your presence and reassured with your abilities. Be fully present, maintain eye contact and project your voice. Leverage this energy to drive the conversation, find out what the interviewer needs and then succinctly convey how your skillset will enable you to meet the need – and then some.

“The whole key to a job search is mindset, no matter what your age,” said Venturi. “Feeling competent with your online presence gives you a professional advantage whether interviewing for your dream job, leading a team through organizational change or delivering a sales presentation.”

 

Forbes.com | November 18, 2020 | Sheila Callaham

#JobSearch : 5 Ways to Prepare for a Video Interview. Great Two(2) Min Read!

With “social distancing“, face-to-face interviews are on the decline. However, companies still have job openings to fill. Just look at a job board and you will see thousands of positions available.

Even if you aren’t part of a video interview during this global crisis, chances are you will be sometime in the future. The good news is preparing for a video interview is similar to preparing for a traditional interview.

However, here are some aspects you don’t want to overlook.

Invest in the Proper Technology and Applications

Ask the potential employer which application they use for video interviews so you can download it and explore it ahead of time. Applications like Skype and Zoom are the most popular since they are easy to use. You also want to make sure your computer is fast enough to handle a video interview so there are no delays or lag times.

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What Skill Sets do You have to be ‘Sharpened’ ?

Continue of the article:

Test the App Prior to the Interview

Testing the application involves making sure your camera works correctly, ensuring you can connect to the application and determining whether there are any transmission issues. You don’t want to be struggling with navigating through the app during the interview, so testing well in advance will make the process seamless. 

Practice With a Family Member

You may have shared your executive profile with a family member or friend to proofread, and now you can use them again to practice for a video interview. The things you should be looking for are camera angles, lighting and whether or not there is lag time when communicating. Even a one-second lag time can make it seem like you are interrupting the interviewer, so you don’t want that to be an issue. 

Look Presentable

Your LinkedIn profile should have a professional headshot, and you need to match the professionalism in your video interview as well. Just because you are interviewing from your home doesn’t mean you should dress casually. It’s tempting to wear shorts and only put on a nice shirt since the interviewers will only see your upper body. However, if you have to get up for any reason, the embarrassment of not having on dress pants could be devastating. 

Eliminate Distractions

Finally, look around the room and eliminate any distractions you may have. Is there a clock that makes a sound at the top of each hour? What about any clutter in the background? All of these may seem normal to you since you live with them but can create huge distractions during a video interview. Take the advice from the best professional resume writers and make the room you’re interviewing in look like a professional environment as much as possible.

Just because you are sitting in the comfort of your own home, don’t let your guard down. You need to prepare as though you were traveling to an in-person interview. Make sure your technology is working and that your personal appearance is professional. You want them to remember you for the right reasons.

FSC Blog Author: Ms. Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, CERW, CEMC, is a Certified Professional Resume Writer/Career Consultant, and the President of Professional Resume Services, named one of Forbes “Top 100 Career Websites”. Considered an influencer, she is consistently listed as a “Top Career Expert to Follow” on Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

FSC Career Blog | March 24, 2020