I don’t have a favorite IT recruiting blog per se, but decided to check out Old Cheezhead, the online recruiting and SEO blog, and Recruiting.com’s #1 ranked technology recruiting blog last year.
Well, what do you know, a podcast interview featuring blog partners Chad Sowash and Joel Cheesman that really shocked me. As you can hear, they are anything but advocates for video resumes, and many of their points make good sense.
But as a senior marketing pro who regularly hires such talent, I would appreciate the opportunity to see and listen to someone I couldn’t meet personally to help evaluate them - communication and speaking skills, creativity and “good on one’s feet” acumen - in the hiring process. And irrespective of EEOC laws and regulations, I figured that video resumes would be coming into their own by now in our YouTube society.
Well, I quickly learned why they are AND are not.
I ventured to YouTube and viewed a few dozen of the more than 22,000 video resume posts. As reality TV has taught us, there is very little that is broadcast which is truly “real”. And that’s exactly why I don’t think they work very well. They’re a show, a production - a pre-meditated presentation. Sometimes done very amateurishly; other times done quite slickly. Even others start out okay, but end up making you scratch your head about what the individual’s ultimate career aspirations really are.
In any case, there are key elements always missing from a more authentic face-to-face meeting. Sure, candidates can put on a bit of an act during an interview, but I have much greater control over evaluating their personality, perspective, drive and energy by unprompted questions and topics.
I think those seeking a position in the entertainment industry are one steady exception to my video resume rules and reactions. If you effectively entertain, sometimes it just may work!
What do you think?
photo from Indian Business Blog
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- Thoughts from a non-cheesy, non “used-car-dealer-like” Recruiter
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[...] a couple of months back I shared my perspective on video resumes. Wasn’t a big fan way back [...]
Pingback by Social and Professional Networking . . . How Often Will I Change My Mind? | IT Hire Wire — August 12, 2008 @ 7:26 am
I wasn’t able to find Old Cheezhead’s podcast, so I may regurgitate a lot of the same old.
From a recruiter’s perspective, accepting Video Resumes, is obviously like walking into a mine field. There are some roles that probably justify their use, while others, simply open doors for lawsuits, but what EVER you choose to do, you must remember, that this is still, just a resume. And while it IS meant to replace the soon-to-be-obsolete 2 dimensional paper resume, it was not meant to ever replace the interview.
Video resumes are probably the next big thing, why wouldn’t they be? It’s only a matter of time before employers begin setting up their own “wall” on some Job Board version of Facebook. Video resumes are simply the next step in the evolution of resumes. But, while I am sure they will eventually take off, I think they are a danger to the recruitment process. And, not JUST for all the obvious reasons - (namely, opening the doors to Discrimination and EEOC lawsuits). I think the dirty little secret that no one likes to talk about, (probably because of our inflated sense of professionalism as recruiters) and that Video resumes are sure to bring to the spotlight is “The Beauty Factor”.
That’s right, I know, nobody likes to talk about it, but Recruiters, like to hire HOT (and I DO mean physically attractive) employees. And don’t take my word for it, 20/20 ran a study last year and found that when all else was the same, the more attractive job seeker, ALWAYS got the job http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123853&page=1. Like it or not Looks DO matter!
I know, I know, there are some professions, where “being attractive” is a bona fide requirement..That Purchasing Manager, will be just as effective regardless of his/her physical attributes, but, given the choice the more attractive candidate, will ALWAYS get the job.
Now, mind you, if you WERE a model, and applying for a modeling job, then, a Video Resume would make sense for you; If you are a budding Film student - send us that Video resume; Are you a Sales rep? Send me your youtube link to that practiced pitch.
On the other hand, if you are a Director of Finance, a Video resume, would simply not make sense - unless of course, you had seen last year’s 20/20 episode on ABC, and fit the socially accepted definition of “HOT”, in which case SEND THAT VIDEO RESUME TODAY!
Comment by Konstantinos Kasekas — August 20, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
[...] to my own bag of tricks and I found one tool that’s missing. The video resume. We’ve discussed video resumes before on this blog. Some people think they’re a great idea and others find them irrelevant. I think [...]
Pingback by Kris’s Video Resume How-to Project | IT Hire Wire — January 7, 2009 @ 8:54 am