A Scary Future, A Promising Tool
For those recent grads out there (myself included) the future can seem daunting. The 2013 graduating class is said to be entering a job market that is no better than last years with few jobs available for those with degrees that are not in demand. In a survey from Adecco, 58% of hiring managers surveyed had absolutely no intention of hiring any new grads. Another survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that over 1/3 of the respondants expected to hire few grads this year than last. With statistics like that, it’s no wonder we’re worried. Luckily, this is not the end-all-be-all. There are things we can do to help make ourselves more enticing to potential employers.
We’re a tech savvy bunch. We know our way around computers, cameras, smartphones, and tablets. If there’s some new technology released we’ll get our hands on it and have it figured out in an hour, we’ll be pros in a day. We communicate through text, images, and video seemlessly and simultaneously. Why shouldn’t our resumes reflect that? In order to truly differentiate ourselves from the rest of the unemployed population we need to use our comfort with technology to our advantage.
Enter, the video resume. Our traditional resumes may state our degree and previous experience, but do they really showcase who we are? Or what we can do? Instead of a piece of paper that emphasizes a lack of professional experience, tell employers about the skills you possess, who you are as an employee, and where you want to go. A video resume is an opportunity to create that extra visibility for yourself. Elevate yourself and your skills beyond what printed words can say, beyond the formality of action verbs and manicured margins. Express yourself in a way previously unimaginable, and stand out from the crowd.
