Skip Navigation LinksHome > Blog

Why We Love Paper Resumes

I am often asked—challenged, really—why I feel that videos are going to replace paper resumes. “Of course not, never!” I answer. They are shocked! Why would someone running a video “resume” business care so much about “paper” resumes? The answer is that reading remains an incredibly efficient form of communication, and nothing can rival it in terms of laying down facts and figures. Additionally, there an art to the visual aspect of writing a resume, and a clear, legible page layout is an indication of a candidate with a clear sense of purpose. But the best part of the “paper” resume is that it liberates a video resume (or video profile, or video introduction, or whatever one wishes to call it) of dull, time-wasting facts and focuses on the person behind the job application. Our clients are a special group of people, with the passion and enthusiasm to appear on video and introduce themselves to their prospective employer. In some cases, the employer watches the video introduction prior to looking at the resume (typically in Craigslist applications, where the video link is even easier to click than an attached Word document). However, in the majority of cases the resume has been reviewed for meeting minimum job qualification factors, and the video then becomes the deciding factor in setting up a phone interview or in-person interview. Regardless, these days the only way to land a position is to have a great resume, cover letter, and interview(s). But short of having a direct contact within a company, the video introduction is the most effective tool in distinguishing a candidate above their faceless paper-based peers.

Posted 7/1/2009 12:40:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Better Confidence in Interviews through Toastmasters

Have you heard of Toastmasters? Most people have, but may not have considered it for themselves. It is often--wrongly--thought of in the context of community or fraternal organizations. Instead, Toastmasters is actually an organization 100% focused on improving the communications skills of their members. Most Toastmasters clubs focus on business communications and the types of public speaking that you might (gulp) be asked to do in a new job. I joined Toastmasters in 2005, and I've found it invaluable to my ability to speak in small or large groups, on television, or in all those "off the cuff" moments that can catch you by surprise. Although there are many roles in a Toastmasters meeting, there is one activity that is absolutely perfect for job seekers looking to improve job interview skills: "Table Topics." Table Topics is general held at the beginning of the meeting, and it is conducted by a rotating "Table Topics Master." This person addresses the club briefly with a special theme for the day. Themes are usually things like "Inspirational Teachers," "Teamwork," or "Life Challenges." The theme will be developed and then a question will be posed to the audience...and in a few seconds a random member will be picked to answer the question! This person will head up to lectern and deliver a 1-2 minute timed response to the question. Does this sound familiar? The process is then repeated so about 3 members each week get a chance to practice their impromptu speaking skills. Although you can be expected to get stumped a few times, after a couple months you won't have a problem again. Even if the question is a tough one, you'll be able to stay quiet for a moment, with poise and confidence, and re-channel the question if needed, and make the situation work for you. Table Topics has been a great part of the Toastmasters experience, and is a great reason to think about joining a local club. If you're interested in checking it out, clubs meet at all times of the day, and there are dozens of them in Sacramento (and everywhere else, too). Clubs love guests, and don't call on them in the meetings, so don't be shy! I should also mention that membership is cheap. My club is just $40 per 6-month period. For Sacramento Area Toastmaster clubs, search for a convenient time/location on this link: District 39 Toastmasters "Find A Club"

Posted 6/13/2009 6:58:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Why CareerBuilder's Video Resume “Feature” Failed

It didn't seem like a bad idea. Take one of the leading job sites and give people the option to add a video resume to their profile. It was launched in 2007, and pulled down sometime last year. Although, strangely, they've left some of their pages up on their site. I confirmed with a phone representative that it is still down. Why did they take it down? A lack of participation from their customers. It's hardly surprising, but we see this repeated again and again with the self-service video resume concept. Very few people have the knowledge and desire to create their own video, while those who try are horrified by the results. Take a look at some of the tips they have on their checklist: Lighting - Make sure you don't have any shadows Background - Solid colors work best; just make sure you don't blend in. Windows - Avoid sitting in front of if possible. If you can't, make sure no light is coming (try hanging a something with a solid color over it). Noise - Check for background noises: coughing, doors opening/closing; talking; car horns, etc. Distance - make sure you are centered in the camera frame from the waist up. This doesn't exactly bode well for results that are decent enough to send out in a jobseeker's most vital communications, does it? At least CareerBuilder wasn't trying to get rich from adding the feature, unlike the numerous wannabe YouTube sites that keep cropping up in the marketplace. There is no “easy” video resume, either for a job seeker or for a business trying to utilize them. It's a tough combination of career coaching skills, equipment, technology, and facilities that make for an effective video resume. Without everything done properly, the video resume is merely a novelty item. Perhaps CareerBuilder, to its credit, saw this limitation and wisely chose to withdraw support.

Posted 6/12/2009 2:39:00 AM by Charles Gordon

5 Questions About Video Resumes

I was recently interviewed by The Press Tribune about my involvement with the Placer County Fair, and about video resumes in general. One point I was pleased to get across was the supplimental, not primary, nature of video resumes in the job seeking process. Here's the link: 5 Questions About Video Resumes - Roseville Press-Tribune

Posted 5/27/2009 4:20:00 AM by Charles Gordon

The "Perfect Resume" - Impossible?

It seems the longer a job seeker is out in the market, the more resume revisions he or she will feel compelled to make. Since a resume is the main point-of-contact with employers, it stands to reason that something must be wrong with it, if calls aren't coming in. There is a certain level of resume quality that is essential. A job seeker with good writing skills (and a couple friends to proof-read), or a basic (under $100) resume-writing service can easily achieve this level. A truly great resume is actually more a reflection of a solid career history than wiz-bang typography and cogent writing skills. Still, many people feel the urgent need to re-write their resume at various intervals if interview opportunities are not happening. This is understandable. The problem, though, is that different resumes strike different managers, eh, differently. The other night my wife and I were reading novels; I was reading Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander, while she was reading an Agatha Christie novel. Both great books, but for different readers. Imagine if a novelist tried to write "the perfect novel" that would appeal equally to us? Isn't it the same with resumes? Some managers will like resumes with a functional layout; others will like a chronological version. Some may like it if you highlight your experience in the military; others may not. If you put many keywords in the resume, a junior-level HR representative may pass it to the next level since it met the objective job criteria; but the hiring manager may find all those keywords distracting! So even in a single position, a resume may do better or worse in different stages. Make good of what your resume is, and don't feel you ought to change it just because your phone isn't ringing. If you second-guess the format, you might replace it in haste with a new version that wouldn't be as effective. Instead, turn to those other, tougher areas of your job search. More networking, more digging into online applications, etc. If you have a good resume, stick with it and focus energy on the things you can better control.

Posted 4/20/2009 3:38:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Freemont Job Fair

The Employment Guide is putting on a job fair next week. We will be taping a mix of 60-second (free!) video resumes and also 15-minute sessions for $49. If you'd like to drop by, here is the information: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 11am - 3pm Devry University, Fremont Campus 6600 Dumbarton Circle, Fremont, CA 94555 http://www.employmentguide.com/jobfairdetails.html?JobfairID=2992 We're looking forward to it.

Posted 3/20/2009 6:36:00 AM by Charles Gordon

You Need a LinkedIn Account

was surprised to hear that not too many people at the recent job fair had LinkedIn.com accounts. This is a great website for networking and jobseekers in general. Think of it as a low-maintenance version of Facebook, for professionals. A basic account (which is all you need) is free, and it gives you quite a few features: Post your job experience, education, etc. Connect with "contacts" (past co-workers, friends, professionals, etc.) Write simple updates (a sentence or two) which will be sent to your contacts in a general update email sent by LinkedIn on a nightly basis. Join "groups" with similar professional interests for discussions Write recommendations for past colleagues and also get recommended by them. Post a link on your profile to your video resume on our site, your blog, etc. You also get a URL link of your profile page which you can attach to your resume, cover letters, etc. Why go to all this trouble? Because LinkedIn.com has critical mass and is the de-fact FIRST PLACE that HR representatives and hiring managers look when they are trying to learn more about the person behind the resume. One recruiter I spoke to last year shifted ALL her candidate sourcing to LinkedIn. This speaks to the quality of people on LinkedIn, and also to the importance of having an account there. Since it is free, and takes only a few minutes to get started, why not get started now? LinkedIn.com

Posted 3/12/2009 6:18:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Sacramento Job Fair Update

Yesterday Jim, Joanna, and myself attended the Sacramento Job Fair at the Scottish Rite on H street. Our organizers estimated there were about 1,500 attendees. This was our first job fair and a wonderful way to connect with individuals in the area seeking employment. The employer turnout was fairly good, all things considered, and I was also impressed by the attendees. For the most part everyone was positive, inquisitive, and responsive to the video resume concept. We are looking forward to taping our new clients over the next couple weeks and following their progress as they seek jobs.

Posted 3/12/2009 5:54:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Resumes, Cover Letters, Video Resumes, and Your Image

Having more options available to jobseekers is a wonderful thing. Here's a brief summary of what I feel gives candidates the best visibility under various circumstances. Resume - As resumes have migrated over the past 10+ years from paper to electronic form, they are still the most vital element of a candidate's presentation. Virtually all jobs require them, and it is generally a good idea to have several versions on hand to focus on a particular position. For example, an entry-level accountant might have a resume for accounts payable, and another for accounts receivable, depending on the job description. Ideally, a candidate could customize their resume for each application. Realistically, this time may be better spent in other job-seeking activities. Cover Letter - A cover letter is a chance to open a conversation with a hiring manager. If you think of the job description as a series of questions, the cover letter can showcase particular background strengths and approaches to the challenge of the position. Some "reading between the lines" can be helpful. A strong cover letter is key to opening the door with positions that are likely to have numerous competitive applicants. Unfortunately some companies such as Apple [see comment below] no longer accept cover letters. Video Resume - The video resume is the most "static" of presentation tools in that it needs to apply generally to all the positions. It should not contain too many specific elements that would limit the audience. For example, "I'm looking for a challenging position in banking" would be a poor choice if an ideal job surfaced in the insurance industry. The point of the video resume is to stand out among 2-dimensional job candidates and show the demeanor of a "real person" that a manager would like to bring in for an interview. Ideally, a link to the video resume is sent out along with the resume and/or cover letter, to be easy to view. I hope this helps to clarify the role of these communication tools. An approach involving all three is the 1-2-3 punch that we need today!

Posted 3/6/2009 9:32:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Sacramento Job Fair

The Employment Guide and News 10 are putting on a job fair next week, and we will have a booth. If you'd like to drop by, here is the information: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 10am - 3pm The Scottish Rite Center 6151 H Street, Sacramento http://sacramento.employmentguide.com/jobfairdetails.html?JobfairID=2954 Hope to see you there!

Posted 3/2/2009 9:30:00 AM by Charles Gordon

On Your Desk: 3,000 Resumes

We've heard the stories before, and it is fairly typical for a middle-management position posting to get 70 or more resumes in response. Apparently for entry-level positions the numbers are much higher. I would have guessed as many as 200 resumes could come in, but this article in CNN Money says that is the low end. Some managers have told them they have received as many as 3,000 resumes in response. The upside for job seekers? According the article, in a position this popular, only a small fraction of these resumes are even relevant. How to stand out in this pack? Consider what you would do if you were the manager: BOLDFACE the action words that correspond to the job description Make the words on your resume revelant to the job requirements INCREASE BY 300% the numbers that capture your career. It doesn't just apply to management. At UPS I had a quota of 900 BOXES/HOUR as a TRUCK UNLOADING SPECIALIST. Make sure that your first page GRABS their attention. It doesn't matter if you have 1 page or 4 pages, the first one is the important one. CUT out excess stuff in your resume that is too wordy. These people are skimming, at best. If you do these things just a little better than most people (and the fact that you are reading this shows that you care), you have a good chance of making the initial cut. After that...things gets more interesting. I will be covering deeper into the process in future posts. For now, let's aim to keep those resumes on the desk and out of the recycle bin!

Posted 2/21/2009 9:24:00 AM by Charles Gordon

CW31 Video Resume Success Stories

Video resumes are really taking off in the Sacramento area, thanks to the great (and free!) service provided by Chris Burrows and CBS affiliate CW31. They only began a couple months ago, and are increasing the visibility of video resumes and reporting successful hires in all industry sectors. Most noteable to me is that these video resumes are uncoached and filmed in a rather high-stress environment that reduces the number of "takes" available to each person. It proves what we have been saying all along--that employers are NOT looking for Dianne Sawyers and Brian Williams types when they watch these videos. Rather, they want to bring approachable, real people in for interviews, and not waste time with candidates that are a poor fit. Here are some great success stories. These links will open new windows and have brief commercials before they begin: You're Hired: Financial Advisor(February 18th) You're Hired: Accountant (February 10th) You're Hired: Service Technician (February 9th)

Posted 2/19/2009 3:02:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Your Worst Enemy - Inaction

A layoff, with all the associated emotions, is a rip in your hull. Your ship will sink if you don't head to shore or work the bilge pumps to stay afloat. You have put out a distress signal (posted your resume), but there is no telling exactly when help will come. These days, there are many ships foundering at sea. I don't want to carry an annoying analogy much further, but my point should be clear--it is up to you and only you to seek rescue. The heady days (which we often mistook for our own instantly recognizable talent) of rapid re-employment are gone, replaced by an often lengthy struggle. The job market today is structurally challenged; there are more workers than jobs. For those fortunate in retaining their jobs, the market is a worrisome technicality. For job seekers, an economic depression is already here. I'm saying these things for a couple of reasons. First, I want reassure you that you are not alone in this struggle, and that it is OK to be going through a variety of negative feelings. But secondly, I want to alert you to the dangers of being stagnant, as they are not readily apparent. There is an urgency to the situation that lurks below each day of unemployment. Make sure you “do one thing” that boosts your job search, or at least your morale, before eating dinner every evening. This is your “job” now. Here are a few productive ideas: Did you know that there are groups of job-seeking people that meet regularly for support? I would highly recommend seeking one out, or starting one yourself. Check out meetup.com in your area. Connect with old friends outside your area. Consider a short trip to visit them as a break, if it is feasible. This can help get you “out of your head” and clear your thoughts. Volunteer. Careful with this one. It can be a great morale boost, but be aware that there is a tendency to reduce your job seeking focus because you feel you are “working.” Until rent, food, etc., are donated to you, you cannot give your potential income to others. Get into a routine of leaving the house as early as you would for a job. A coffee shop is well worth the daily cash expense if it gets you going in the morning. Consider a part-time job. This is the equivalent of running the bilge pumps—it won't fix the ship, but it will keep you afloat as you continue the job search. Some people have found job opportunities in this way, too. Good luck to all and stay active!

Posted 2/13/2009 1:38:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Debating the Teleprompter

We have ordered a teleprompter for the business and expect to have it running for people scheduled this Friday or later. A teleprompter is an interesting device that fits in front of the camera lens, with a one-way mirror at a 45-degree angle, and shows scrolling text in an easy-to-read format. The key is that the person on-camera can no longer see the lens, but the script or prompt that has been prepared. There is no substitute for this device--looking down at papers appears sloppy and unprepared; and looking to the side (or in any direction away from the lens) appears "shifty" and conveys a certain untrustworthy characteristic. Frankly, I'm not sold on the teleprompter concept yet. I'm concerned that the ability to read a script will lose some of the authenticity of the speaker. But since most of our customers are unfamiliar with being in front of a camera, it will certainly add a comfort factor. If I could pin down one attribute of a great appearance in front of a lens, it would be relaxation and--especially--the ability to add a natural smile. Which isn't easy! I'm excited to see the impact of this device on our customers.

Posted 2/9/2009 3:21:00 PM by Charles Gordon

Video Resumes in the Media

A number of factors are converging at this time to provide great opportunities for jobseekers with video resumes. For several years, HR representatives have been lauding the web as a new place to source, qualify, and evaluate job candidates. Much media attention has been on the negative side of this, such as blogs or MySpace pages with unprofessional (to say the least) content. Virtually every Top Ten list of "How to Find a Job" articles informs us that we must be careful in how we represent ourselves online. The flip side of this is that candidates should be actively promoting their professionalism online. Any business professional with even a few years of experience will have useful knowledge to share with the greater community. A blog, a nicely developed profile on LinkedIn.com with membership to a few groups, and a strong resume are all great ways to emphasize the positive side of an online identity. Naturally, we also feel, and are committed to, the concept and proper delivery of a quality video resume. One of the top sites for the recruiter industry is ERE. Kevin Wheeler wrote this article this past December, “Video is About to Become King - Are You Ready?”: “Video has advantages – it allows candidates to show their communication skills and it is often easier for a candidate to be expressive about past achievements when telling a story to a camera. Although these are not a substitute for an interview, they are a way to pre-screen candidates and develop a more complete picture than one gets from a written resume.” http://www.ere.net/2008/12/18/video-is-about-to-become-king-are-you-ready/ Vault.com conducted a study in 2007 and found that: “ 89% of employers revealed that they would watch a video resume if it were submitted to them.” http://www.vault.com/video-resume/ Vault also found that only 17% of employers had actually seen one. This information is slightly dated, especially for the Sacramento area, where local CBS affiliate CW31 has been offering weekly tapings of video resumes, for free, to job candidates in the region (they have gone on location in Sacramento, Roseville, Modesto, Stockton, Marysville, and Vacaville). These tapings have attracted hundreds of people, and despite the fact that resumes have a low production value (they have too many people to provide numerous re-takes or coaching), and are advertising-supported (an ad appears before the resume can be viewed), numerous individuals have landed jobs as a direct result of the video resume: http://gooddaysacramento.com/jobcenter It is a good time for candidates to think about unique ways to stand out amongst their peers. A professional video resume is one to do so.

Posted 2/9/2009 2:14:00 AM by Charles Gordon

How to Create a Video Resume Online

VideoResume.tv serves the Sacramento, California area with our professional studio, so I'd like to give people outside the region some tips on creating a quality resume on their own. With the idea that "it's the musician, not the instrument," a quality video resume can be done with a typical consumer camcorder with some care. Here are some tips: Physical Setup Setting. Do you know someone with an office you can borrow? From frame 1, viewers will see the environment you are filming and it needs to be professional. If you don't have an office, free a desk at home of excess clutter and take care to look at the background. Sound. Do your viewers a big favor and use an external microphone if possible. Check your camcorder for an external microphone jack (looks like a headphone jack). I highly recommend, on a tight budget, an Audio-Technica lavalier microphone available from Amazon.com for less than $25. This is money well spent. Your voice will be clear and it reduces the echo effect of small offices. Let me add this--the audio quality is MORE important than video quality for a video resume. This is because the expectation for video quality on the Web is modest, but people will stop watching a video with garbled sound almost immediately. Lighting. If nothing else, make sure that you have adequate lighting. How much is adequate? If you put a pair of sunglasses on, that's about what a camera will "see" of your scene--always darker than you think. That means you will want to bring a couple extra lamps into the room and make it brighter than normal. Ideally, position a "key light" (your brightest light) at a 45 degree angle to your chair, focused on your face. Then, position a "fill light" of about half the intensity at the opposite 45 degree angle. The idea is to bring out the features of your face but to make sure the shadows cast by the key light aren't overpowering. Stable Camcorder. Use a tripod if possible. A typical camera tripod is fine, since you will be setting the position once. If you don't have one, make sure you have a stable method of setting the camcorder in the right position. A friend with a steady hand isn't as good, the motion will still be detectable. Interview Taping Preparation. A 1-2 minute video resume (should be closer to 1 minute, ideally) should be scripted and practiced. It will probably take about 20 tries to get it right, and during this process you will think of some re-phrasings. Roll with it, don't stick with the script exclusively. Distraction-Free Taping. This should be obvious, but a surprising number of people seem to think it is OK to have background noises in their presentation. It isn't. It is always worth a re-tape if something unexpected happened. Always review the video carefully, you may find things you didn't notice while you were taping. Water. Drink a sip of water between every few takes, even if you think you don't need it. There is something about being "on camera" that makes throats instantly dry. Posting the Video Hosting Site. There are a number of services for user-submitted videos. YouTube is the obvious one, but there are others. Take a look at Vimeo, they offer the best quality and will even accept HD video. Make sure you disable user comments, you don't want any distractions on your video page. File format. I recommend saving to the flash .FLV format, it seems to get the best results, at least with YouTube. That's about all I can think of for now, let me know if you have any questions.

Posted 12/23/2008 3:17:00 AM by Charles Gordon

Laid Off - What Now?

Layoffs are simply part of business reality these days. Just as in boom times companies "size-up" to increased business needs, they need to shed staff as business contracts. Unfortunately, for individuals experiencing a layoff, the micro and macro economic "big picture" has a highly personal component. "Why me?" is the question always asked and seldom clearly answered. In fact, it is quite common that staff members remaining after a layoff are not as skilled or competent as the ones pushed out the door. Sometimes they are simply the ones that worked cheaper, or were in a cost center with a healthier budget. The most important thing, in this economy, is to move forward aggressively on a job search. Trust me, there is no time to grieve or "process" the loss of a job. Not in 2008. As layoffs mount, you can be sure that "you are not alone" both in the sense of not taking the layoff personally, but in a real sense you are facing increasing ranks of peers who will be directly competing with you. Here are steps I would urge you take immediately: Go on the rebound. The first couple weeks you may find within yourself a positive energy that you can use. Contact all your associates with the news and let them know you are available. I have a DBA/Developer friend who found work within 3 days of termination this month, based on a phone interview. It still happens, folks. Create 2 resumes versions. I don't know about you, but I've been such a perfectionist about resumes that it can take weeks before I am ready. This won't work today. What to do? Take your current resume and add your most recent experience. An hour, tops. No analysis paralysis. Get that resume out as quickly as you can, and where applicable tell people this is your "draft" as you work on a better version. Buy yourself some time, but meanwhile get your information in front of people. You might never need to finish that perfect resume. LinkedIn account. Do you have one already? If not, go to www.linkedin.com and create one. Otherwise you should expand on the information in your profile. Make sure you have at least 30 connections, several recommendations, and links to your blog or video resume, if you have these. Why is LinkedIn so important? Because it is so prevalent in the industry. I know of one technology recruiter in Sacramento who has, as of this Fall, switched all her candidate sourcing to LinkedIn. She finds all the potential candidates she needs from there, and doesn't even bother with the mainstream job sites. Create a blog. A professional blog is a great asset. Even if you have a personal blog, add a professional one. I highly recommend www.Wordpress.com, and it is free! If you are comfortable with it, use your real name in the URL of the blog to aid in search results. Then, treat this blog as one of your part-time jobs. Think about writing articles where you can share your industry knowledge and expertise. It will feel empowering to have this outlet. Regularly update the job sites. Monster, Career Builder, Dice, YahooJobs, etc., all reward active job seekers, people logging in and updating information to keep it current. When a recruiter logs into his or her account, they find information about "last visted", "last updated", etc., and may skip you if they think a phone call or email might be a waste of their time. In particular, try to update your resume at least on a monthly basis to trigger changes. Hook everything up. In any of your sites or profile pages, put links to your other sites. LinkedIn allows 3 links in your profile, and of course if you have a blog you can add unlimited links. Make it easy for HR people and hiring managers to find all the parts of your online identity. I hope this is a helpful short list of action-items. Good luck with the search!

Posted 12/16/2008 2:14:00 AM by Charles Gordon