Video CVs

Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service

You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

What is a video CV?

Video CVs

• Becoming increasingly popular with jobseekers wanting to stand out from the crowd.

• Rather than replacing traditional paper CVs, videos enhance job applications by providing employers with more insight into what an individual has to offer.

• Traditional CV outlines your skills, qualifications and experience, whereas a video CV enables an employer to get a feel for your personality

• Just another tool in a jobseeker's toolbox. Anything that can help you get noticed is worth trying.

What should you include in a video CV?

What should you include in your video CV?

Chance to inject some personality into an otherwise faceless process and demonstrate your communication skills, professionalism and passion to a recruiter.

Introduce yourself:

• Your education

• Any relevant work experience

• Sector you want to work in

• Maybe an interesting fact about you which will help you stand out from the crowd!

When should I use a video CV

• Whether you use a video CV or not depends on the sector, the role you're applying for and you as a person.

• Great opportunity to show your presentation skills

• Most appropriate when applying for creative or customer-facing roles in sales, media, marketing, PR and advertising.

• But can be used whenever you wish to make an impact. Just having taken the time to prepare a video CV shows the employer you are prepared to go the extra mile.

How often are video CVs used?

• Use of video CVs has increased dramatically in last 3 years. Can now film it at home on laptop or mobile.

• Largely because webcam availability is so widespread and broadband and mobile connection speeds are so good, the quality of the CVs is now really good.

• VideoRecruit allows users to create recruitment profiles with or without video. Profiles with a video CV are clicked on 7 times more than those without.

• Recruiters are intrigued to see video CVs as they are new and more visually communicative than a paper CV.

What makes a video CV successful?

How long should it last?

What makes a successful video CV?

• Video CVs come in many different formats which express individuality: that is one of the best things about them. There is no set rule for creating a video CV, whereas paper CVs tend to have a set format.

• Best when between one and three minutes long. You can say a lot in 60 seconds.

• Introduce yourself clearly and tell the viewer why you're the right person for the job. Remember you only have a few seconds to engage them, then you have to keep them interested.

• End with something like: "Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my CV".

Body language and clothing

Dress as though you're attending an interview.

• Wear a suit if you are seeking a formal position for which you will be expected to dress formally

• Wear smart casual clothes if the environment you are seeking to join is more relaxed and creative

Maintain eye contact with the camera and show a cheerful disposition.

Your elevator pitch

Imagine you were in an elevator with the managing director and you had just the 60 seconds ride to the top to sell yourself to her, how would you do this?

I’m Kirsty Jones, a final year Digital Arts student at the University of Kent. I achieved 67% in my exams and have a strong interest in web design, having done several projects on this. I also have extensive experience of PHP, SQL and Dreamweaver.

During my degree, I’ve successfully combined my studies with work and other commitments, showing myself to be self-motivated and well organized. I take pride in everything I do, work well under pressure and love a challenge. I have a drive to see things through to completion, and try to learn something new from every experience because I believe there’s always room for self-improvement.

Common mistakes

• Untidy background

• Not speaking clearly

• Shuffling paper

• Having a script 'off camera' that you refer to while recording your video. It is really obvious if you look away from the camera to read notes. Can have Post-It notes next to the web cam.

• Approach recording your video CV in the same way you would a face-to-face meeting. Don't do anything you wouldn't do in an interview.

Anything else to bear in mind?

• Video CVs provide recruiters with the perfect chance to reject you before they’ve even met you!

• Your social class, ethnicity, weight, and age can all be gleaned in the first 10 seconds. Some HR managers are nervous about video CVs because of perceived discrimination.

• You need to be pretty confident about the value you bring to employers when you create a video CV.

• If you believe you have something unique to offer and you can communicate this on film, then providing employers with the option to click on a link to a video CV may give you an edge over other applicants.

Tips• Choose your location carefully: Shut yourself away in a quiet, private

room. • Dress as you would for a face to face interview: this will make you

feel more confident. You can however wear your pyjama bottoms if these are out of view of the camera!

• Practice. Record yourself to see how you appear on camera. Be aware of your surroundings and the lighting.

• Look at the camera, not down at the desk or table so it looks like you are talking directly to the employer.

• Make sure the webcam aligns on your face and shoulders. Sit up straight with a good posture rather than slouching.

• Sitting at a desk or table, rather than in an armchair or on the bed, will help you feel more professional as you will be sitting up straight.

• Make sure that the employer is not going to be distracted by anything in the background: tatty posters, lamps, unmade bed, piles of unwashed laundry.

• Make a list of your unique selling points: the things that make you better in some ways than most of the other people who will be applying.

• Don't just read out your notes as this will sound stilted.• Have a glass of water to hand as you will be doing a lot of talking.• Talk slowly! Relax, speak confidently.• Initial presentation is vital so be positive and articulate. • Smile: it really does make a difference to your tone of voice.

Video about Video CVs

More details about what to do and what not to do when filming your video CV.

www.inspiringinterns.com/candidates/how-it-works/video-cv-tips

Destinations of Electronics/CSE Kent Graduates

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/electronics.htm

Careers Employability Award on Moodle

• Half the unemployment rate for students completing the award www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

• DP2650 • Email bw@kent.ac.uk if you have problems enrolling

www.kent.ac.uk/careers Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.ukOpening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed: 15 minutes): 10.30 to 12.30 and 2 to 4 pmHelp given for up to 3 years after graduationWeekly careers emails every Monday afternoon

Video CVs

Bruce Woodcock University of Kent Careers and Employability Service

You can download a copy of this presentation at

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

Application Process

The smaller company process is much simpler and you can apply much later (often after final exams) but salaries are usually lower and they offer less training and less chance to specialise.

“Sell” your degree• Many employers don’t know what a Multimedia or DA degree

entails.• Lots of “Mickey Mouse” degrees out there• Kent degree has a lot of project work and strong technical skills • Talk about relevant modules (plus marks if good!)• Technical skills: programming, applications such as Adobe Suite• Group projects: work with others in preparation and presentation.

Individual projects: work independently, manage time, project management skills, write report

• Portfolio• Gather and analyse relevant information from a wide variety of

sources• Identify and propose solutions to problems• Communicate with others in a clear and articulate manner• Present ideas and arguments verbally in presentations and

seminars, and informal discussions

BODY LANGUAGE

• Dress smartly• Shake hands warmly but wait to

be invited to sit down.• Smile!• Eye contact• Try to relax: don’t sit on the

edge of your chair, but don’t slouch.

• Speak clearly and not too quickly• Don’t fidget

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/nvc.htm

On-line videos

• INTERVIEWS

• ON-LINE APPLICATIONS

• SELECTION CENTRES

• now streamed on-line

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm

• All last about 25 minutes and are excellent!

INTERVIEW WEB HELP

Telephone interviewswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivphone.htm

Multimedia CV www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvcreative.doc

CV Examples www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

Multimedia/Digital Arts Careers page www.kent.ac.uk/careers/multimedia.htm

What can I do with a Digital Media degree?

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/multimedia.htm

Duty Careers Adviser

• A Duty Careers Adviser is available to help with queries between 10.30 am to 12.30 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. every day.

• No appointment needed - just drop in.

Other Presentations.www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm