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VIDEO CV’S, WILL THEY BECOME MORE POPULAR?

VIDEO CV’S, WILL THEY BECOME MORE POPULAR?

As technology becomes more prominent in all our lives, to what extent will employers use technology when recruiting new candidates?

Video CV’s were first talked about in 2006, when a candidate sent a video CV to a large investment bank. Although this person didn’t receive an offer for the job, they did receive online publicity which sparked an interest in this method of application. However, will hiring managers believe that a video CV can completely replace a paper copy?

According to a survey from the career publisher Vault Inc., 89% of employers would be open to the idea of viewing video CV’s. However, only 17% of employers have viewed a CV, which is a major contrast to the amount of people open to the idea. So, what are the benefits to video CV’s?

  • Control: You can treat a video CV as an initial interview, but with a lot more control! If you say something you didn’t mean to, or forget to mention something, you can always just film it again. It allows you to come across as much more relaxed rather than uptight and nervous, giving you ample opportunity to highlight why you’re the ideal person for the position.
  • Unique: As previously mentioned, only 17% of employers have viewed a video CV. Watching a candidate discuss their strengths may be refreshing for an employer to watch. It may also give the edge on other applicants, because very few would have done the same thing.
  • Visibility: In a video, everything about you is visible to the employer. They will be able to see if you portray yourself in a way that is professional and well suited to the company you have applied for. So even in a video CV, you need to ensure your surroundings are clean and tidy, whilst also dressing smartly – it will highlight your professional status.

Along with the benefits of creating a video CV, there are negatives that need to be considered before deciding to go down that route:

  • Not a hot trend: According to a survey completed by Robert Half Finance & Accounting, most companies do not even accept video CV’s, so before investing your time and effort in creating one, make sure the company you’re applying for accepts them.
  • Unconventional: With a paper copy of a CV, if an employer wants to recall something about an applicant, they can just glance at a piece of paper. However, with a video, they would have to watch the entire thing again – wasting their time and effort. It may be beneficial to do both a video and a paper copy to ensure that an employer has all the information about you readily available.
  • Time consuming for an employer: Although it seems like a great idea, if every applicant sent a video CV at an average of 3 minutes long, this would take up a large chunk of an employer’s time. Would it be plausible for an employer to watch video CV’s if every applicant sent one?
  • Informal: This method of applying for a job is informal, and it is entirely dependent on the company you apply to whether it will be received positively. Make sure you research the company’s ethos fully, before creating your video!

It may seem that people are sceptical about video CV’s, nevertheless it offers an opportunity for applicants to really show what they are like as a person! Although it may have some negatives, you could argue, what method doesn’t?

As technology moves at a fast pace, it poses the question, will paper CV’s become obsolete?

 

 

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