With lucrative jobs in the public sector decreasing by the day, the competition is getting more and more intense. In such situations, having a video resume helps candidates stand out from the crowd. Such resumes are short-form video content that is shared with hiring members.

Considering that videos are an effective tool to convey a lot of information in a short time, video resumes are likely to be better received than conventional paper ones. These can be generic or targeted for a particular position. Depending on the job that you are applying for, try to get a picture of the skills that recruiters expect from an ideal candidate. Post that, think of ways to leverage video and convey that you have the necessary skills.

By now, you would have realized that creating a video resume requires planning. Here are some tips to help you in your video journey.

Maintain a Professional Approach

Your video resume should convey that you have a go-getter attitude and are serious about the job. Try to be in formal attire and maintain a professional demeanor. If you choose to joke in the video, make sure that your puns do not come off as offensive to any group or community. Avoid any form of cursing or slang usage in the video.

Identify an Appropriate Background

The background of your shots plays a crucial role in deciding their overall appeal. Avoid blurring the background and choose a tidy space. Having a shadow on your face is distracting for the viewer and may cause them to drop off from the video. That is why we recommend that you invest in your appropriate background lighting. While you may choose to film in either natural or artificial lighting, avoid mixing lights of different temperatures.

Know When to Draw a Line

As a candidate for public sector jobs, you need to know how to draw a line between personal and professional life. Your Facebook or Twitter handle may have some details that you would not want to tell your potential employer. This may be details of your love life, political affiliations, friend circle, etc. That is why you must avoid linking your Twitter or Facebook page to the video resume that you are creating.

Have a Script Ready

Attempting to pull off a natural video may seem appealing, but you need to have a direction on what to say in the video. When you prepare a script, you chalk out ways to articulate your words. This improves the content delivery and makes you come off as powerful. Ideally, you should prepare a script that chalks out who you are, talks about your skills, and establishes why you are the best fit for the position.

The script should talk about your achievement. Try to discuss how your values align with the ethics of the public sector job that you are applying for. Once the script is prepared to your satisfaction, try to read it multiple times. That way, you will get the gist of the content, and you need not memorize the script. By avoiding a memorized script, you ensure that potential recruiters see your authenticity and earn brownie points.

Edit Your Content

Irrespective of the planning that goes into your video creation, you need to edit the video if you wish to come off as professional. Using some free video editor, you can easily pick a resume-appropriate template and then edit your video. Basic color correction is necessary to ensure the consistency of the video clips.

If you have any filler content or slurs in the content, try to do away with those elements at the editing stage. The use of captions lets you add context to the video and sell yourself better. While creating a video resume, your focus should be on improving the visual appeal of the content. That way, you can convince potential recruiters into watching the entire video.