Video résumé

A video resume is a way for job seekers to showcase their abilities beyond the capabilities of a traditional paper resume. The video resume allows prospective employers to see, hear and get a feel for how the applicant presents themselves.

History

Video resumes (or Video CV in UK terminology) were first thought of in the 1980s for use and transmission via VHS tape, but the idea never took off beyond the video taping of interviews. However, with the modern capabilities of transmitting streaming video via the internet, video resumes have taken on new popularity. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1592860,00.html It's a Wrap. You're Hired! - TIME ] ] Video resumes are now being widely accepted by companies throughout the world for varying professions and the need for objectivity in these videos is becoming a serious issue.Fact|date=September 2008 Many copycat video resume companies have sites where people can upload their own videos, but companies are shying away from accepting homemade, webcam pieces.Fact|date=September 2008

Criticism

With the popularity of video hosting solutions there has been much debate in the usefulness of video resumes. Most recruiters feel that a video alone does not give an employer enough information about a candidate to make a proper evaluation of the applicant's potential and more importantly skills. One article suggests that

:"While a video resume introduces applicants on camera, the value such visual imagery adds is debatable. A text resume allows for specific pieces of information to be parsed out and compared across candidates. When the information is delivered verbally, recruiters need to glean the details themselves." [ [http://www.ere.net/articles/db/DDFA0ECCDE2C4005A476D53EEFEC18A7.asp Time to Call Pause on Video Resumes] ]

Video resumes can serve to facilitate racial, ethnic, class-based and age discrimination, or lead to accusations of such discrimination. [ [http://www.directorofrecruiting.com/2007/06/what_the_lawyer.html Lefkow, Dave. "What the Lawyers Think of Video Resumes"; directorofrecruiting.com, June 24, 2007] ]

New trends

With the rise in video-hosting sites like YouTube and broadband Internet usage, video résumés are becoming more popular. [ [http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/resumes/20070101-ransom.html Wall Street Journal] ] Several sites have been created for video resume hosting. Support for video resumes is growingFact|date=September 2008 as more complete solutions evolve.

References

External links

* [http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/why-isnt-the-video-resume-more-popular Stephen J. Dubner, author of "Freakonomics" on video resumes]
* [http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2007-04-24-video-resumes_N.htm Job seekers show rather than tell] article from "USA Today"
* [http://abcnews.go.com/Business/CareerManagement/story?id=5526142&page=1 Video Resumes: Lights, Camera, Hire Me] article from "ABC News"