Kick Your Job Search into High Gear: Create a Living Video Resume

It’s a competitive job market out there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there are 5.4 unemployed workers per job opening, and that number doesn’t include employed workers that are actively seeking employment elsewhere. What can you do to get your foot in the door and move towards being the one receiving the job offer for that one opening?

First, it’s important to understand the criteria of how an applicant is hired. It breaks down to this: Appearance, Personality, Skills, Speech, and Intelligence. Of these, the secret ingredient that makes or breaks a hire is Personality. That isn’t to say zany, extraverted, or any other over the top trait is what we’re talking about. Rather, it’s that special “je ne sais quoi” that works for that employer, much like that chemistry that is or isn’t there on a date. All things being equal (and sometimes not equal), the applicant that receives the job offer is often the candidate that is a better personality fit.

Now to getting your foot in the door: While there are tried and true ways of getting your written resume noticed, the question is: What can you tell about a person’s personality on it? The answer: not much. The reality is that a written resume may get you in the door, but it’s not going to tell the employer much about you and it won’t go far in creating that sense of this is a must-see candidate.  And that’s where a Living Resume steps in.

A Living Resume is a video resume that is a one minute glance as to who you are, not simply in terms of your qualifications, but you and that essence you possess that makes you unique.  Like a well-written resume, a living resume immediately gets to the point about why you are a fit for a company and/or position.  More than that, it also gives the employer a sense of the type of person you are.

Despite what some would say in terms of difficulty, it’s not all that hard to create a winning Living Resume. First, the technology to video you is available virtually everywhere: Computers, cell phones. If you don’t have a device that can video you, I guarantee you someone you know has it. So that takes care of the expensive portion.

What is extremely important is content. In fact, always think Content is King when creating a Living Resume. Get to the point immediately and make sure the point is relevant to why a company would want to see you.

Also extremely important is you being…you. Allow your personality to reveal itself to the employer. Be genuine, as that is the “it” factor that will take you to the next level: the interview.

And then there are the other details all needed for success. Dress for your video as you would if you were going to the interview: Professional and well-groomed.  Also, the simpler the background the better for the sake of distraction to the person viewing the video.

While this is not the perfect solution for every applicant (there is no solution that is), a Living Resume will open up doors and opportunities more often and faster than the written resume, so give it a go.


To your success,
Rita