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The (Potential) High Cost of a Video Resume

Who can forget the video resume of the Ivy-League-graduate-Wall-Street-wannabe on YouTube? He danced. He showed off his 140-mile-per-hour tennis serve. He demonstrated his weight lifting skills and claimed to be “trained by Buddhist warrior monks.”

He got a lot of attention—but not from the Wall Street recruiter. Links to his presentation were passed around by a number of web forums with less than complimentary comments.

The experts say...
In an informal poll, most employers and career counselors came down on the side of not recommending video resumes to most students. Generally, they said employers don’t have time to view or want to take a chance on viewing video resumes.

Do a search on YouTube with the words “video resume” and you’ll find more than 1,400 videos to watch. Many are “mocumentaries” rather than legitimate video resumes. Among those that are legitimate, some sincere and well done. Some sincere, but awful.

It costs little to create a video resume—but is it a good idea?
Video resumes may screen you out of an opportunity

Let’s start by assuming you can create an award winning resume video that showcases you in ways a paper resume and cover letter can’t.

Problem 1: Many employers may not be willing to view your video. Why? Employers who are assessing your skills and abilities via your video resume will also see your race, gender, age, disability, and possibly national origin—traits considered “protected classes.” This is information many employers do not want to receive ahead of a face-to-face interview because it exposes them to potential lawsuits.

Problem 2: Like it or not, sometimes we make judgments based on someone’s appearance. This includes employers, and many will have an “ideal candidate” in mind for a particular position. As long as the employer isn’t basing the decision on the candidate’s protected class status (race, gender, age, disability, and national origin); the employer is free to discard candidates he or she perceives as unsuitable. For example, an employer may decide not to interview candidates appear disheveled or sloppy in their video resumes—and that’s perfectly legal. While a paper or electronic resume won’t show your five o’clock shadow or wrinkled clothing, your video resume could and prevent you from getting invited to a face-to-face interview.

Clearly, there is a downside to submitting a video resume that you need to consider before deciding if this is the best way to market yourself as the best candidate for the job.

Note: This article is adapted from one by Tanya Salgado, an attorney with White and Williams LLP, who practices in the area of employment law and litigation.

Legal information is provided as a resource and should not be construed as legal advice for any particular situation. NACE is not able to give advice about specific legal issues regarding situations particular to your situation. For specific legal advice, please contact your attorney.