Max out the impact of your CV – try a different approach!

Whether or not to use a video CV will depend on you and the type of job you are going for. A recent article in the UK’s Guardian newspaper quotes Simon Thompson, chief executive of VideoRecruit. He believes video CVs can be used whenever you wish to make an impact with an employer. ‘Purely having taken the time to prepare a video CV shows the employer you are prepared to go the extra mile to succeed.’

So how can you make a good video CV?

Unlike traditional CVs, there are no set rules when it comes to the format. This freedom can be both liberating and problematic. Experts agree that the clip should be between 1 and 3 minutes. Elizabeth Bacchus, career coach and founder of The Successful CV Company, says there is a lot you can say in 60-120 seconds.

‘Introduce yourself, say why you are the right person for the right job and bear in mind you only have a few seconds to engage them,’ she says. Importantly, remember to say, ‘Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my CV,’ at the end. The video is the teaser for the classic CV you’ll be sending alongside.

You’ll need to take your appearance seriously. It is probably best to wear what you would to a real interview with that company, so if they seem to favour smart casual, dress accordingly.

You will need to present a happy, confident personality, so practice filming some clips and watch them carefully to see if you are comfortable with how you are coming over. It would be good to share the clip with friends to see if they think you are putting your best foot forward.

And what makes for a bad video?

Reading notes ‘off camera’ is a mistake because you will be constantly looking away from the interviewer, which will be off putting to the person watching. Also, be careful to make sure the environment you are filming in shows you in your best light – what posters or pictures are in the background? Is your place tidy? By filming at home you are inviting your interviewer to come round, so imagine they are actually about to walk through the door.

Are they really used, or is this just a mini-trend?

Meet The Real Me, a website that helps jobseekers make and share video CVs, was established in 2009 and has so far helped more than 10 000 candidates record video CVs, the Guardian article explains. Website owner Marc Fels believes this is largely due to the widespread use of webcams and broadband.

VideoRecruit, which launched in 2012, lets people upload profiles with or without video. On average, those with a recorded CV are clicked on 7.6 times more than those without. ‘People are intrigued to see video CVs as they are new and more visually communicative than a paper CV,’ says Simon.

So if you think the job you are going for puts an emphasis on how you come over to strangers, how creative you are and would rate communication skills highly, why not have a go? Take time to get it right and you could give your CV a leg up the employer’s list.

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