Stop with the Video Resumes Already!

Maybe it is the fact that it's Valentines Day, but the love for the video resume just won't stop. And as much I would like to spread the love today, I can't. At least when it comes to video resumes. Another article on video resumes, this one called Resume Rebooted, features new ways to think about showcasing your talents. And while some, like Linked In make sense, others like these video resume tools don't.

You can read my previous post on video resumes and the many reasons I think they won't take off. But know that most companies aren't going to sign on. For example, the list of companies using Visual CV in the article are all smaller, tech companies who apparently don't care about the legal risk. But you won't find any big companies (and if you do they aren't listening to their lawyers!) who will use it just becasue of the risk.

When someone sees what you look like in an interview, that's okay. They selected you to come in based on credentials alone. But when someone selects you to interview based on a picture, or using a resume with a picture, the equal opportunity laws come into play. And whether that's fair or not is not my place to say. But the law is what it is.

Jobs are still attained primarily through networking. You have to get OUT from behind a computer and have conversations and build relationships. Even social networks don't provide the in-person confidence that most companies and most people need to safely make job recommendations. Will that change? Don't count on it.