The Video CV

Digitalisation is everywhere – also in recruitment

Therefore, it is becoming more common to use video CV’s in the recruitment process. Even if you are not asked to send a video CV, it is a great way to make yourself noticed among the pool of jobseekers who are all just as eager as you to land their dream job. It is also a fun and creative way to take your job search into your own hands. This article give you some tips and tricks on how to create your video CV.

What are the advantages?

Creating a video CV enables recruiters and hiring managers to get a quick overview of who you are, your skills and experience, and not least your presentation skills. In the video CV, you get your chance to walk the talk. Instead of just telling about your rhetorical skills, the video format allows you to show the audience your presentation skills and what you can offer them.

On average, a Danish recruiter receives 50 applications per posted job. In fact, many jobs in the private sector are not even advertised, as many job hires happen based on networks, internal workers and unsolicited job applications. Therefore, creating a video CV gives you the advantage of a tool that will make you seen on digital platforms. If you post the video on LinkedIn or send it directly to companies, the chances of someone noticing you are much higher than with the standard paper CV.

The essentials in a video CV

There are many ways to create your own video CV. If you want to be really creative, you can try different formats such as animation, whiteboard videos or even stop-motion.

But this mostly applies to creatives with technical skills. For those of you who just want to make a “plain” video CV, the best way is to film yourself while you are giving a short elevator pitch.

Just like a paper resume, your film needs to cover the essentials: Education, experience, and interests. Prepare your elevator pitch before you sit down to record your video CV. Your elevator pitch should include your unique selling proposition—a statement that tells potential employers the main reason why you are different from the rest. Use the tools from the elevator pitch in your video CV

The elevator pitch

Just like the elevator pitch, your video should also include a call to action. What is the purpose of your video? Remember to finish off with contact information and perhaps something like “So if you could use an employer like me, please give me a call. I would love to meet for coffee.”

Keep it short and sweet

Keep your video short and concise. Time goes by quickly when you're talking, but it can drag on when you watch the playback. The last thing you want to do is bore the hiring manager, so keep your message between 60 to 90 seconds—just long enough to inspire the employer to take action. The goal of your video CV is to get potential employers to consider you a qualified candidate and secure an interview.

Remember your body language

A large percentage of human communication is non-verbal, so be aware of what your body language is telling employers about you. Use your arms and hands while you are presenting, and remember to smile. You might also consider having someone filming you while you are walking – this creates activeness in your video and brings energy to your persona.

What tools do you need?

It is possible to make a decent video CV on a low budget by using a smartphone alone. You can either ask a friend to help you with filming or just use the selfie function on your smartphone. Some choose to use a tripod and microphone to ensure good audio quality and non-shaking visual experience in the video. A video camera is also an option.

Editing your video

There are plenty of both free and license-based apps to use for editing your video. When you are finished with your video, you need to upload it to a digital platform. LinkedIn algorithms prefer direct uploads, but there are plenty of digital platforms to choose between. If you do not want everyone to be able to see your video, it is possible to upload your video to for example YouTube and use a function that only allows people with the link to see it.

Setting

The setting and background in you video is something you should take into consideration: Make sure that there is natural lighting and that the background goes in line with your professional appearance. Maybe you can find a cool building to film in. A messy background or bad lighting will create “noise” in your video, so make sure that your setting is on point.

We hope this article has provided you with some useful tips and tricks on how to take your job search to the next level! Best of luck!