Job hunters in today’s tough economic climate have to take extra steps to stand out from what is essentially a sea of eager applicants for each and every corporate position. The paper resume is still a helpful tool, of course, and should be composed professionally with the latest resume-writing techniques. The cyber resume, however, is another tool available to intrepid college graduates who seek to stand out.
Companies exist solely to compose and edit these short video resumes, and they are thriving today. Part of what they do well is to coach their clients through presentations of the skills they offer and the various accomplishments they can boast from past experience. It isn’t easy to stand in front of a camera and present yourself professionally, so many job seekers shy away from the cyber-resume option, understandably. But those who are reasonably photogenic and feel comfortable with public speaking, may find that a video presentation makes them stand out from other applicants.
The cyber-resume allows you to dress for the job and present yourself professionally in every way. It allows potential hiring managers to hear your voice and see your presentation skills. Of course, if the position applied for is one where presentation skills are necessary, the cyber resume will definitely put you head and shoulders above the crowd. If not, it is still a good way for hiring managers to “get to know you” on a limited basis.
Whether or not you choose to use the video option, you will still need a paper resume, of course. If you think you know the basics of resume writing, though, you might want to stop and think again. When were you trained? And by whom? Today’s resume writing skills are very different from many older styles, so be sure you are up-to-date in your knowledge of the form before finalizing that document.
In any resume—whether a cyber resume or a paper one—applicants must remember to present themselves in terms of what they have to offer, never in terms of what they “are looking for.” It is the oldest resume mistake in the book! You want a potential employer to read your initial introductory paragraph and start thinking about all that you bring to the table, start wondering if you can do for his company what you did for your previous employers in terms of increased earnings or productivity. You don’t want that manager to come away from reading that paragraph with a sense that you are either demanding or begging. Wording in resumes is a very delicate thing, so if you are not a writer, do hire a professional. The few changes that person might make to your initial paragraph will alter a hiring manager’s first impression, thus your potential to get an interview.
So whether you put together a fantastic, slick cyber-resume package or offer a simple, well-composed paper document, the care you put into your resume will show itself in phone calls, interviews, and—eventually—job offers.
