Video Resumes Are Dumb

Says Crispy Critter.

Gerry Crispin "asked hundreds of recruiters" if they will "search and play video resumes". Not one was interested. They take too much time.

The idea of video resumes is too exciting, however, for career counselors to drop. Just as every one of them is telling job hunters stupid things like the resume is dead and they have to start a blog, they will harp on the video resume as the most advanced way to deliver a candidate's message. It's bunk but it captures the imagination.

Comments

[Ragan Jones]

Although I somewhat agree that video resumes are not yet feasible in most corporate and 3rd party settings, I disagree with the blog comment. We always search to see if our candidates have personal blogs - it gives tremendous insight into their interests, thinking and many times showcases outside talents that a resume simply cannot.

[Recruiting Animal]

Rayg, Rayg, you misunderstand! A blogging type -- like you or me - is going to have a blog. But this something only a very small minority has the inclination to do. So it's pointless to start telling everyone to do it.

Yes, there are ten zillion blogs which means the idea appeals to many people but there are also 9.99 zillion abandoned blogs. See what I'm saying? And most blogs are started by kids with time on their hands not busy working people with families.

And, hey, self-employed business-people don't tell me that you get half your business from your blog. New biz dev is part of your job and blogging is an easy way to do it.

[Ragan Jones]

No, no Animal - you misunderstand me! Most of the talent we hire in the interactive marketing space are very technologically driven, as you must be in this industry, and have their own blogs where they discuss their work, their inspiration, etc...We use these blogs not only to recruit, but if a candidate is interested in us, we look to their blog/personal website/portfolio/flickr account/myspace page, etc...to see what makes them tick. We usually find out more insightful things here than a resume could ever give. Perhaps that just works in our industry, but we love it and it works!

[Ryan Paugh]

Hey Animal:

What about PowerPoint resumes???

I just wrote a post on U. of Chicago's addition of PowerPoint slides to their enrollment process. Could this concept float into the business world???

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[karen mattonen]

Raygan,
question, a reality question - what ACTUAL propotion of your candidates actually do blog versus the ones who don't? Meaning of the whole industry?
And, if they don't have a blog, will there be a lack of interest in the candidate?
Has the times change that in some industries a Blog is like a Resume, we can't interview w/o one?

Regarding blogs and personalities or learning something about individuals - I have met individuals who may write a particular way, but when one meets them they are entirely different than they appear - (some have even said that about me, that I appear more aggressive in Prose than I do in person)

Some may even put up a persona just because they know employers are looking at their info. So, maybe then, as we often say in the Recruiting world, candidates lie, and often on their resume, is it not possible that candidates are also now doing the same w/ blogs as well?

[Mike Miller]

So what now??? two years after you guys wrote this. Technology emerging further into our life's and Video Resumes became quite popular, especially at times as we in right now. Web sites like http://www.mayomann.com and http://www.vault.com provide a great tool to get employed or at least an interview. Time has changed and we should move forward and don't stand still.

Mike

[Lycoas]

Hi There, I found your website on Lycoas, does it support Firefox?

[Lycoas]

Hi There, I found your website on Lycoas, does it support Firefox?