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Stuart Gentle Publisher at Onrec

Jobseekers using video CVs have received 20,000 profile views

Jobseekers wanting to stand out from the crowd are reaping the benefits of swapping their traditional paper curriculum vitae in favour of a video CV, with some candidates receiving more than 20,000 profile views, according to Video Recruit (VideoRecruit.com)

Jobseekers wanting to stand out from the crowd are reaping the benefits of swapping their traditional paper curriculum vitae in favour of a video CV, with some candidates receiving more than 20,000 profile views, according to Video Recruit (VideoRecruit.com).

Launched just over a year ago, the online service, which draws on the emerging digital age by revolutionising the traditional CV, already has over 14,000 candidates and more than 400,000 available jobs online. Video Recruit permits both candidates and employers to create an online profile that can be personalised with all elements of multimedia including text, imagery and video, enabling both parties to experience a more transparent and interactive application process, often stripping out the need for the first interview process.

Ahead of making the site Internationally available, CEO of Video Recruit, Simon Thompson says “The appetite for video CVs is high. On average, video CVs are viewed for 25 seconds, versus paper based CVs which only receive around 7 seconds viewing time.   People on average spend 45 minutes on our video upload page.”

As many as 85% of candidates believe that their personality is just as important as their qualifications when it comes to being successful at their job, so with more than 95% of recruiters saying that they would give a job to someone who seemed a perfect fit, even if they did not have all the qualifications, it seems personality and confidence are equally important aspects.

From a candidate’s perspective, creating a video CV not only offers a competitive edge, it gives freedom of expression, an opportunity to inject personality into an application and allows employers to learn more about that person than they would otherwise glean from a piece of paper.

Research carried out by VideoRecruit has also found that video recruitment profiles posted by employers to cover a variety of roles and purposes can form part an incredibly effective branding strategy aimed at acquiring the top talent.

Mr Thompson continues “Videos provide a huge time saving element for all parties involved with the recruitment process. Employers often know within the first five minutes of meeting someone whether that person is right for their business or not.   Similarly, arming potential candidates with prior knowledge about a company makes it easier for job seekers to truly appreciate if the job is suited  to them or not, without wasting valuable application and interview time. Candidates can also upload video references from previous employers.”

When asked regarding the potential for unfair bias and prejudices based on appearance, age, colour, ethnicity, Thompson commented "Unfortunately those prejudices can still exist in the interview room. We are simply saving candidates and companies time and money.'

Since its conception, the CV has remained relatively unchanged and become so standardised that it can be difficult for job seekers to shine and for employers to shortlist the most talented individuals.

Only 1 in 9 videos actually go live and this is usually due to the fact that candidates normally play around with the functionality when they first visit the website as it is something new to them. “Job seekers very quickly realise how unprepared they are when they start “umming” after every sentence.  They then replay the videos and often don’t like them due to the fact they’ve not taken the time to prepare; say the right things, get the correct lighting, hair looks out of place, don’t like the sound of their voices, don’t like what they are wearing etc etc, the list goes on! Preparing an effective CV is all about preparation. My simple advice is to put yourself in the mindset of the employer and think about what will impress them over and above your credentials on a paper CV” concludes Thompson.

As a free service for both job seekers and providers, Video Recruit is on a mission to liberate the recruitment process by giving candidates and employers more freedom to promote themselves and a greater understanding to make more informed decisions.

www.videorecruit.com