Do I recommend making a video or, what has become more common, creating a web résumé? The simple answer is “No,” except very rarely.
There are three primary reasons for my recommendation:
1) EEOC rules prohibit an employer from asking you about your age, gender, and ethnicity – so when you include a photograph or video you are volunteering information that cannot be asked. Please remember that there is age, gender, and ethnicity discrimination – so why take an unnecessary risk?; and
2) You need to give considerable thought to your audience and how a video or web résumé might play to that audience. Although you may think you have a cleaver idea to get someone’s attention, that you look great, and that your content sets you apart; an employer may not; and
3) Employers are very busy and often just don’t have the time to look at anything special – many times they take the old “Joe Friday” approach: just the facts!
It is also important to remember that not every rose smells the same. What you think might be cleaver may be interpreted as ‘corny’ and you may not look as handsome/attractive to others as you do to yourself.
Once in a while the potential reward may outweigh the risk. If the opportunity you seek just screams for originality and creativity, then a plain-vanilla résumé may not be the best approach. In fact, if you remember how great the steak tastes when it comes sizzling out of the kitchen or what grabbed your attention of the book you just purchased (likely the cover), you should understand that there is always justification for some degree of “Wow” factor in a résumé – however hitting someone between the ears with a 2×4 can be painful and, like beauty, taste is very subjective. It is a far far better thing to be mildly creative without risking everything by trying to be too clever.
