I got a job offer using a Video Resume
Hi, my name is Melanie Meade and I am writing to share my story with those who are like me. First let me tell you little bit about myself. Taking risks has never been one of my strong points, especially when involving new job opportunities. I am a junior at Bridgewater State College. I am majoring in medical technology and going to be a medical technician. I consider myself a jack of all trades bartender, dance instructor and recently got my certification in Zumba, an aerobic dance using Latin music. During the past several years, I have worked part-time jobs to cover my college expenses. I consider myself computer literate, use facebook, can navigate the Internet, and can use standard Microsoft applications. I do not consider myself a computer wiz or a video or camera guru, and have never used YouTube before.
Anyway, when my Aunt, Nancy Shone founder of HitechResumes, approached me and asked if I would be interested in doing a sample video for her new website, where I could use it to promote my new Zumba skills, I kindly said yes but in reality really wasn’t sure how it could help me. I shared my concerns with her about the amount of time that would be required and I didn’t even own a video camera, let alone know how to get a video from a camera into a computer. But never the less I said yes, why not give it a try. How hard could a 2 minute video be to create? How much time would it actually require?
She assured me that my video creating process really was quite simple and that the website had a Video Guide to help people like me make their own RAW video and all that needed to be done was someone needed to record some footage of me during an actual class. That week she showed up at the studio with her camera, one of those regular video cameras the kind that everyone has. She recorded about 15 minutes, then said have fun and left. The next day she called me and asked if I was ready to record my audio message to be used as the words for my video. I had thought about what I would say and told her I would be over tomorrow to do it. When I got to her house the following day she took out the same video camera. She turned it on, told me to sit next to the camera and to speak clearly. I recorded my audio message reading directly from a script.. She then took the camera and attached it a computer with a cable and with the couple of key strokes my audio message was downloaded to the computer and combined with my video along with some Zumba music.
When I left her house and returned home there was an email from the HitechResumes site it contained my MyWebpage link, along with KeyName and password to the HitechResumes site. The link that she sent me was my own online profile that showcased my video and contact information. She also informed me that I could monitor my video’s views on the site by viewing my stats in my profile It took me a couple of tries to figure how to login, change my profile view my stats and find MyWebpage, but after that I got it. Hmmm, I thought to myself interesting but how can this help me?
So I started brainstorming.
Here is what I came up with. Being a member of the Zumba Network I was listed in the instructor locator section, so why not add my video to the Zumba site. So I added MyWebpage link into my Zumba profile and that’s what brings me to the end of my story, after I added the link I received a call from a local gym telling me they saw my video resume in the Zumba site and offered me a job teaching Zumba.
The moral of my story is don’t be afraid of taking risks especially when involving unfamiliar technology. I found my experience to be a very enjoyable experience. It did not take an enormous amount of time and the benefits far exceeded the risks.
Try it out. I am a believer now! IT WORKED FOR ME!
Article written by: Melanie Meade, Zumba Instructor & College Student
What is very interesting about this story is that Melanie was offered this job, without actually interviewing in person but instead was offered the job during the first vetting process the phone screen. That is truly amazing when you think about it.
That hiring manager had already decided before they even spoke. The issue here really is this hiring manager needed an aerobic instructor. The list of candidates that she was sourcing from was just that, a list of candidates and contact information. The fact that Melaine had her video resume in that contact list, gave the hiring manager a chance to see her skills in action and to her hear speak on the video. SOLD IT IMMEDIATELY. I bet if you look through that list of candidates on that Zumba site, there is not many with a Video Resume, to help make them stand out from the pack.
This is an prefect example how SEEING IS BELIEVING and the power of multimedia in the employment process.
Nancy Shone
September 25, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Excellent use of video & audio to illustrate what Zumba is.
Janice Litvin
September 25, 2009 at 6:38 pm