Video Resumes in the News

Some people think that video resumes are the next big thing in job search. While some short streaming video in a web portfolio that is used to communicate a candidate's personal brand or unique selling proposition might be of value to a hiring manager at some point during the interview process, I'm not convinced that the video resume is the way to go and here's why:

• Most video resumes are long and boring. It's hard enough for hiring managers to sift through paper resumes to find the right competencies and accomplishments that are relevant to their market. Can you imagine viewing and fast forwarding through hundreds of video resumes?
• The video resume may lead to more job discrimination suits. Does the video resume put the 50-something, physically challenged, or ethnically diverse candidate at a disadvantage? Maybe or maybe not, but the potential for discrimination suits is bound to rise if video resumes become a mainstream tool for sourcing candidates.
• A poorly produced video resume could knock out an otherwise viable candidate. If the video resume has an amateur feel to it or has poor sound quality or lighting, could the candidate loose ground with the hiring manager? A poorly written or designed resume could have a similar impact, but might be more forgivable, less memorable, or less likely to become fodder for the hiring manager's office mates (remember the Yale student who used a video resume to apply for a position at UBS?)
  

Want to hear more about my musings on video resumes? Check out this recent article on MSNBC.