#01 Make a good first impression
Most employers will make their minds up as to whether the applicant is right for them from the first few seconds of a video CV. Dress as you would for a face-to-face interview — no one is going to take you seriously in your socks and pants. Be enthusiastic and animated without moving around too much – keep your head and shoulders still. Sit in a chair or practise standing still on the spot when talking to camera.
#02 Show, don't tell
There is a Chinese proverb that goes: "Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I'll remember." Be creative in the way you present yourself and do something that your potential employer will remember. Don't just reel off your achievements and job history in a monotone drone – your paper CV can do that for you. The opportunities for creativity a camera gives you are vast compared with summing yourself up on one or two A4 pages.
#03 Simple is effective
This isn't an audition for Britain's Got Talent. Keep your application relevant and to the point – don't say it in ten words if five will do. And don't make it too slick or jazzy. There are companies out there that will put your video CV together for you — great for producing something to a high standard, but ultimately it's someone else's work.
#04 Keep it short and structured
If you take up any more than three minutes, you need a very good reason to do so. If you can't sell yourself in three minutes, can you sell yourself at all? Break your video down into short sections that address each area, for example: 'about me'; 'portfolio'; 'skills'; and 'contact'.
#05 The strongest links
If you want them to know more about you, include links within your video to specific areas of interest — your relevant experience in more depth, for example. And provide a link to a traditional paper CV to give them something they can quickly refer back to.
#06 Rehearse
You have as many 'takes' as you need to put this together. Think of the process as a rehearsal for a face-to-face interview, albeit one you can practise your answers to again and again. Ad-libbing comes across more naturally on camera, but have your first few lines worked out and know the areas you want to cover. An old trick is writing key bullet points on paper and taping it to the tripod, directly beneath the lens.
#07 Be confident and engaging
Engage with the person you are selling yourself to by looking straight down the camera lens – but remember, it's not a staring contest. Be confident, not arrogant. And, most importantly, smile.
#08 Answer the question
This is essentially the equivalent of a first-round interview, so make your video relevant to the position to which you are applying and answer the obvious questions: why are you right for the role? What relevant experience do you have? Know what you need to say to get to the next stage, then tell them.
#09 Context is key
The location you choose to film in will add to the impression you give. A desk with a few professional adornments laid out in front of you is a good start. A clean and tidy environment portrays the right message and sets the tone – and make sure you clean the camera lens before you start.
#10 Watch it back
The best way to polish your performance, agonising though it might be, is to watch back and improve where you need to. You will come across quite differently on camera to how you think. Time when you're speaking seems like it is going twice as fast, whereas time when you're listening seems like it is going half the speed. You'll get a feel for this when you watch and re-watch your own recordings.
John Wickens is founder and chief executive of ESC Events, a Surrey-based event management company. Visit esc-events.co.uk
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