Melody Demel isn't applying to be the next Oprah or Ryan Seacrest.
The recent college graduate made a video resume to snag a job at a web company.
"I'm a really outgoing person," says Demel. "That's what the company can see what I'm about, where as if they were just looking on paper, okay, you had an internship, every other candidate has had an internship."
It caught the eye of BJ Cook, Chief Marketing Officer at www.SuggestionBox.com
The Solana Beach-based website is one of a growing number of companies looking past the paper.
"The biggest thing is personality," says Cook. "Is their personality going to fit within the company?"
Even CareerBuilder.com and Vault.com now allow job seekers to post videos online. They even list the "dos" and "don'ts".
You may want to skip your demonstration of ballroom dancing, bench pressing and karate chopping. Instead, Vault.com says be natural, smile, look straight at the camera, and don't forget to run a comb through your hair!
"We want that person to be engaging, to be fun and comfortable on camera," says SuggestionBox.com's Cook.
Melody Demel says she's not going back to paper.
"Everything we do now is on the internet," she says. "I think its only going to improve and more companies are going to catch on."
Cutting through the competition with her camcorder and charisma.
Vault.com's Tips for Creating a Great Video Resume: Presentation
- Your video resume should be between 90 seconds and 2 minutes.
- You can either look straight into the camera or have someone interview you. This other person should be off-camera. Make sure the sound is good-quality for both you and the questioner. If you have a web cam, mount it in the top center of your computer monitor.
- Try to sound as conversational and natural as possible.
- Speak clearly and slowly.
- Make sure you do not rock or make distracting expressions.
- Highlight your skills and experience that correspond with your resume headers (ie, education, experience/background in the field, computer knowledge, languages).
- It's best to tailor your video resume to the specific job you are applying for. At the very least, you should tailor resumes to specific industries.
- Film a few runs of your video resume and watch them all back to pick the one you think is best. Get someone else to watch with you if possible.
- Wear a suit. Dress and groom yourself as if you were going to an interview.
- Do not look at notes during the taping of the video resume.
Background/Lighting/Sound
- For the best and most professional look its a good idea to tape yourself in a room with a lot of natural light and a simple color on the wall behind you. If the room is very sunny, make sure there are no shadows across your face.
- Do not tape yourself in a room with a lot of distracting artwork or posters in the background.
- Be sure there is no background noise. Also check to make sure the video is clear and audible.
- If you use a video camera, we suggest having a friend or family member sit in the chair you will be using in order to make sure you will be centered on the screen.
- Think news anchor: the camera should be focused on your head, shoulders and upper torso.
Suggested Video Resume Format
- State your first and last name. ("Hello, my name is Jane Smith.")
- State your educational background, including university and major. If you graduated with honors or a high GPA, you should say so. ("I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2003 cum laude, with a political science major." )
- If you are applying for a specific position, state why you are interested in the position and the company in particular.
- If you are not applying for a specific position (e.g., you are doing a video resume for a position in sales), simply state that you are looking for a position at your desired experienced level in the industry. ("I am looking for an entry-level position as an account executive." If you are applying for jobs in different industries, for example, in marketing and in PR, you should tape two separate video resumes.
- Now discuss your top three qualifications for the position. If you are not applying for a specific position, state your qualifications for a position in your career path. Your qualifications should correspond to items from your written resume. Make sure to give dates, the names of your previous employers and any specific accomplishments. You can discuss more than three, but pay attention to time.
- If you have any other special abilities that relate to your job (advanced computer programs, language, honors, membership in professional organizations) state them.
- Thank the watcher for their time and reiterate your interest in the position.
- You may choose to briefly state your phone number and email/web site, but be cautious about doing so if the resume will appear on a public site.
