Video resumes are in for the long run. In this work-from-home economy, when most people barely leave their houses to get groceries, it is very unlikely that hiring managers will go back to face-to-face interviews anytime soon. In the healthcare industry, however, working from your own home is not as common, but getting hired remotely happens more often than ever, as recruiters keep relying on virtual interviews and online onboarding processes to get the workers they need.
In this article, Caring Support wants to help caregivers and healthcare professionals get ahead, not by telling you how to excel in a video interview but by teaching you how to create a video resume that stands out from the competition in the first place.
A video resume is a video where a candidate for a position shares information about their skills, experience, and accomplishments with a potential employer. These videos can be uploaded to a website, like our Caring Support platform, or sent via email to recruiters and hiring managers.
Video resumes may be accompanied by a traditional resume, but not necessarily. They can be targeted to a specific position or company, but they can also be generic for a particular industry. Additionally, video resumes can be recorded using a phone, a webcam, or an actual filming professional, for people who want to go the extra mile.
We understand that video resumes can seem a little scary to begin with, but we promise that they are one of the best tools available right now to help candidates stand out by showing their personality, enthusiasm, and creativity.
Short answer: because video resumes help you market yourself better to employers.
Now for the long answer, video resumes are a helpful tool for candidates in all industries, because they allow you to show employers why they should hire you by showcasing why you are the best person for the job, what skills you have, and what you’ve learned from past job experiences, in your own words.
In the healthcare industry, where most of the workers are required to perform client-facing roles, video resumes are an excellent way for you to show off your personality and your positive attitude, especially when it comes to personal support workers and nurses who many times provide home care for patients on behalf of their family members. In fact, a person would be more motivated to interview a caregiver for their elderly parent or a disabled loved one if they are able to get a glimpse of their personality through a video early in the selection process.
To summarize, a video resume helps you make a good impression by showing the aspects of yourself that you can’t display on a traditional resume, such as your verbal communication skills, your charisma, and how much you care for your work and for others, something that is critical in healthcare.
The following tips will help you create a strong video resume. We can’t guarantee that it will get you hired on the spot, but we can assure you that it will make you stand out from the competition.
Get your webcam ready. Here are the best tips to record a video resume:
You have questions, we have answers. These are the most frequently asked questions about video resumes:
To make a video resume, all you have to do is write your script, dress professionally, and set up the space where you want to record it (or just find an uncluttered spot or a blank wall if you plan to use a digital background later), and just do it. Remember that you don't need fancy equipment, you can simply use your phone and then edit the video to your liking. A good idea is to show it to a friend or family member to get feedback and make any changes if needed.
Just like a traditional resume, what should be included in a video resume is your work experience, as well as your hard and soft skills, education, and contact information. However, you shouldn't stop there. What really makes video resumes so special is that you can tell one of your success stories (choose one that's relevant to the position you are applying to) and include a call to action to encourage recruiters to get in contact with you.
The beginning of your video resume is your opportunity to capture the attention of hiring managers. How? By coming up with an energetic and positive greeting and opening statement. Don't be afraid to be bold. One way to think of your video resume is to see it as your very own tv ad. And what do all good ads have in common? Great openings. So, open with something about yourself and your career that will really make an impact.
Video resumes should always be short and sweet. The general rule is to keep them between 60 to 90 seconds long. There are two strategies you can use to keep your video resume well under two minutes: practicing your script and timing yourself to make cuts where needed or editing the video after recording.
Writing a script is simply planning ahead by writing down the ideas you want to communicate to your audience. You can do this with bullets, small paragraphs, or a simple list of ideas (2-3 words) that you can quickly read while you record and take it from there.
Writing a script will guide you, help you when practicing, and ensure you don't forget anything once you start filming, in case you get nervous. To make it easy for you to follow the script, simply print it out, tape it to a wall in front of you or have someone hold the pages of cards at your eye level while you speak (like a human teleprompter, if you will) so you don't miss a thing.
The best way to finish a video resume is with a call to action to motivate hiring managers to reach out to you. Before that, you can also reiterate your interest in the position you're applying for and your conviction that you truly are the best person for the job.
Just like nobody wants a boring black-and-white resume (depends on the industry, of course) nobody wants a boring video resume. What you can do to make a creative video resume is to find a way to let your personality shine by adding personal touches, maybe even some effects (if you have some editing skills that you want to show off) and just being confident. Just make sure to get feedback on it before sending the video out, just to ensure you're not going too over the top.
Video resumes are important these days because they allow workers to stand out from the competition and catch the attention of hiring managers in a creative and memorable way. It is as simple as that. Create a video resume if you want to show off your personality, say things about your skills, qualifications, and interests that you won't be able to communicate easily in a traditional resume, and express your genuine desire to work for a particular organization.
At Caring Support we truly believe no one can sell you better than yourself, and we want to give you the opportunity to prove it. Get your camera ready, put on your best smile, and do not forget to apply the recommendations above to create your own video resume.
Read More:
Tips To Write An Effective New Graduate Nurse Resume
How To Build A Resume For Healthcare Students
How To Create Your Healthcare Resume Online
Once you have it, follow these simple steps to upload it, and before you know it employers could be hearing why you are the best candidate for a position in their organization from your own words.
If you have any additional questions or comments, reach out. We're happy to help.
Good luck!
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