How long should a video resume be?

About 60 seconds: long enough to say who you are and share one result, short enough that people finish it.

Do recruiters watch video resumes?

Some do and some don't, which is why the video should sit beside your written results rather than replace them.

Should I send a video instead of a resume?

No. Send them together: your results in writing, with a short video alongside.

What should I say in a video resume?

Your name and role, one result you're proud of, and what you want to do next. (See how to record an intro video.)

Is a video resume worth it? When it helps, when it hurts

Yes, in the right format: a short introduction of about a minute that sits next to your results, not a long video that replaces them. A video shows how you communicate, which a resume can't. On its own, though, it's slow to skim and lacks the facts a recruiter screens for.

What a video does that a resume can't

It puts a face and a voice to your name. A recruiter can tell in a minute how clearly you explain things and how you'd come across to a customer or a team, which no bullet point can show.

When a video resume backfires

It's long. Several minutes is a lot to ask of someone who hasn't decided to talk to you yet.
You're reading a script. It sounds like it, and it hides the thing a video is for.
It replaces the facts. Nobody can skim a video for your results.
The sound is poor. Bad audio is harder to sit through than bad lighting.
The employer asked for no video. Some do, to reduce bias. Follow their instructions.

The format that works

Keep it to about 60 seconds.
Say who you are, one result you're proud of, and what you want to do next.
Look at the camera, face a window, and use a quiet room.
Put it next to your results and samples, in one link.
Make it optional: the page should make your case without it.

Don't attach a video file. Put it on a page with your results, so people can skim first and press play if they're interested. (How to record an intro video)

FAQ

How long should a video resume be?: About 60 seconds: long enough to say who you are and share one result, short enough that people finish it.
Do recruiters watch video resumes?: Some do and some don't, which is why the video should sit beside your written results rather than replace them.
Should I send a video instead of a resume?: No. Send them together: your results in writing, with a short video alongside.
What should I say in a video resume?: Your name and role, one result you're proud of, and what you want to do next. (See how to record an intro video.)

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See what a page can hold

Your video sits next to your results, samples and a contact button, in one link.