A video resume is a fantastic technological way to show off your personality and soft skills to employers when you are looking for a job. It might sound simple and but it’s not just about getting in front of a camera and talking. Like a written resume a good video resume takes time, preparation and effort. If you have never made a video resume before here are some tips to get you started.

Remember to be prepared. Create a list of important points you want to mention in the video resume. You don’t want to make a complete draft of everything you plan on saying (in fact that’s something you want to avoid because it will make you sound scripted) but it’s a good idea to have a list of points you want to highlight and then talk about them in the video.

Make sure you are dressed for the job you are looking to apply for. A video resume is a lot like a meeting with the recruiter. That is why you want to appear professional and dressing that way is a good way to do that. If you are in doubt on what to wear then imagine that the video camera is the person taking your interview.

If this is your first time making a video resume then understand that it will take a few tries. So don’t be shy about re-recording. It’s always a good idea to watch what you recorded and don’t worry if you don’t get it right it in the first try. It’s also a good idea to get feedback from a fresh set of eyes so you can always ask a friend or a relative to take a look and give you feedback.

Make sure when you re-watch your recording that you are keeping an eye out for technical issues. The best video resumes can be utterly ruined technical problems. So make sure the video is framed properly and the audio is clear and free of any distortions. Try to stay stationary while you are recording and that should make things easier.

You don’t want to bore your audience so make sure you keep your video resume short and to the point. Somewhere about 2 minutes is a good length to aim for, anything longer than that and it’s easy to lose the attention of your audience. Make up and an end goal for your video resume and then avoid talking about things that don’t help you with that goal.

And lastly, I would always recommend that you keep your body language in mind. Slouching or slumping often conveys casualness and it doesn’t make for a very good first impression. If you are unsure what to do then sitting in a chair behind a desk is usually the best way to go about things. And when you are done, play back your recording and make sure it looks and sounds professional.