Developing The Video Resume Part 1

The well written resume is a great tool to showcase an applicants skills and abilities. The use of a professional resume writing service can help to improve the resume. However the written resume only shows what an applicant has done and not the applicant themselves. For this reason the video resume can be a great complement to a written resume.

The video resume is video downloaded by the applicant to demonstrate their ability to do a job. It provides the applicant the opportunity to present themselves with visual and narrative aspects. The ease of downloading videos and availability of technology has helped to fuel this trend. Employers have had to wait until an interview to see an applicant. The video resume helps busy hiring managers screen applicants by showing how they present themselves.

The concept is not entirely new. People who have aspired to get into broadcast journalism on television traditionally submit a demo tape of themselves to prospective employers. The video resume can be a great way to highlight an applicants qualifications in fields where interaction is important such as sales or positions involving public speaking. Video resumes are also good for careers that involve a creative process  as the applicant can show off their creativity in the video.

Many of the same resume writing tips for written resumes apply to the making of a video resume:

Communication Errors. Any written resume with spelling or grammatical errors are discarded. The same rule applies to video resumes. Not speaking clearly, stumbling over words and lang pauses can take an applicant out of consideration. Maintain posture and avoid too much body language.

First Impressions. When a wriiten resume is scanned by a hiring authority, they take a few seconds to determine if they want to hire the individual. The came is true for video resumes. The presentation made in the first 20 seconds is what gets noticed.

Keep It Simple. One of the things some applicants consider when writing a resume is to use one or two pages. The answer is to use what fits best without tiring the reviewer. Video resumes should be confined to three or four minutes to keep the reviewer interested.

Presentation. A written resume must be well presented with proper format, uniform fonts, and well designed features. The video resume must be preseted in an area that prevents glare and where the speaker has proper distance from the camera.  If the video is not appealing to the viewer, it will not be noticed.

Cover Letters Help Boost The Resume

Last year NASA discontinued the space shuttle program. For thirty years the small fleet of space shuttles serviced the programs and missions of the United States space program. These vehicles in conjunction with their booster rockets revolutionized space programs. Images of the shuttles blasting up into space, maintaining orbit, and landing at airfields were images people watched for nearly two generations.

In some ways your resume and cover letter are like the space shuttle and its booster engines. Think of the resume like the space shuttle. This is the workhorse of your job search that everyone notices. Success is partly determined by it. The cover letter is like the booster rockets. It may not be of use after some time but initially it can set the tone of how your job search may develop.

The purpose of the cover is to get the resume noticed. It is the method used to introduce yourself to the employer  and give a sneak preview of your accomplishments. There are several good cover letter writing tips that can be followed. However it is important to focus the cover letter on the employer and their requirements. There are different ways this can be accomplished.

What does the employer need. State the position or area you are applying for. Mention if this in resopnse to an advertisement or a general inquiry. Explain your interest and reasons for the position. Research information about the organization and insert this in the letter.

How can you help with this need. Explainn your education and work history and how this qualifies for the position. Mention degrees you have and most recent position and how this relates to the job opening.

Prove your worth. Give brief examples of some accomplishments. Mention promotions you have had and improvements you have done for present and previous employers. Employers want to know what applicants can do for them. The cover letter can be the vehicle to accomplish this.

Combination Format For Older Workers

One of the worst aspects of the weak economy has been the number of people out of work. A weak labor market has meant some of the highest levels of unemployment in years. A lack of jobs has resulted in people out of work for longer periods of time. For many people it has meant starting over again with a job search process.

One segment that has been hit hard by this has been older workers, particularly those age 50 and older. After years of working and getting close to retirement age, they now face the prospect of having to find a new job. They find themselves in contention with workers much younger in a job market that is already the most competitive in years.

The one advantage these workers have is the years of employment under their belts and the accomplishments they have made in their careers. For these individuals, the combination format for resumes  can be their best option. The combination resume combines the elements of the chronoligical resume with the functional format.

The combination resume condenses years of experience with acheivements. A good resume writing service can help make a resume that emphasizes these facets. When making this type of resume there are several features to keep in mind.

1. Summary Lead off the resume with a summary statement of previous accomplishments. This should be an overview of impact driven acheivements the applicant has meade. The summary length can vary based on previous employment and current goals.

2. Strengths Focus on strengths that would be evident from the chronoligical and functional formats. Include the skills you have from years of work experience and how these can apply to a new employer.

3. Presentation Make the resume to show what is most important to the employer. Present responsibilities in a paragraph format with each employer. Follow this with acheivements that are presented with bullet points.