Use of video résumés is on the upswing

Use of video résumés is on the upswing
By Laura Casey

For a sales associate job opening at Orbit Baby, the maker of strollers, car seats and toddler accessories in Newark, president and co-founder Joseph Hei wants something from applicants no one else on Craigslist is requesting: a video résumé.

The reason: Orbit Baby needs someone who is confident, outgoing and, perhaps most important, technology-savvy. Hei says a traditional Microsoft Word document wouldn't necessarily show him the skills he's looking for. The person hired will have to be comfortable leading demonstrations in groups and using video communication programs like Skype to talk with clients.

Hei explains, "There are two broader objectives here: First, are you comfortable enough with media and technology to be able to meet these requirements; and ... can you upload a five-minute video? ... We want to see if people are relatively comfortable with the way things work these days."

The company has received responses from applicants living as far away as Africa.

Around the workplace, a variety of employers say they are seeing more video résumés from job candidates, and in academia, an increasing number of institutions are accepting video résumés with applications for admission.

http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-living/ci_14968247

But that is my opinion.

And not to mention last, people of color.


People with funny names have a tough enough time getting a call-back from a paper resume

:banghead:

Older, ethnically challenged or unattractive people can be weeded out easily with this method. Oh, and how about the people who cannot make the investment in the technology to create video resumes? Granted, it is cheaper and easier than years ago, but it still needs and investment in camera, software and a computer capable of rendering the video.

you do it behind a sheet, and nobody on the panel listening to you to determine who to offer the job can see what you look like, your race, what sex you are or anything about you. The decision is made strictly on who plays the best.

My understanding is that the musicians are not permitted to say a word in the audition, lest their voices give them away, and even remove their shoes so no one can tell whether they're wearing flats or heels, have big or small feet, or anything else that might give away their gender.

The rest of us? Someday, will we either have to go on video or go jobless?