People are always asking for video tips, so today, I have a quick list for you to reference as you get started.

1. Lighting – Don’t Be a Shadow Human
   When you sit in front of a bright light, use a window as an example, the light coming from behind you will make you look like a shadow.  To avoid this, simply make sure that you position yourself away from windows and keep a light in front of you. The light in front of you will help to highlight your face and keep the shadows at bay.

2. Avoid a Stuffy Script
   While preparation is extremely important, reading off a script can be stuffy and inauthentic. Instead create an outline of what you want to accomplish in your video.

For example:
Name
Industry or position of interest
2-3 strengths that make you a great candidate
Thank you for listening
Call to action (what do you want them to do)

3. Practice Makes Perfect
   It is rarely a good idea to go into something cold. You need to practice. Even your resume wasn’t written in one sitting, you made edits, got feedback, and took the time to research skills that are important to your audience.  A video shouldn’t be different. Practicing what you want to say and even getting a little feedback can make you feel more at ease. Just to be clear, this practice doesn’t mean you memorize everything you want to say so you come off as a robot. Keep it natural, but do practice so you get comfortable talking about yourself and focusing in on the goals of your video.

4. Keep it Short
   Ideally your video should only last 2-3 minutes. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with every detail of your life. This is simply your opportunity to show your creativity, personality and highlight your skills. The life story should be saved for a place and time outside of the job search process. Tips 2 and 3 will help you to keep this video short and to the point.

5. Dress Appropriately
   Just because this video may be shot in the comfort of your own home, it doesn’t mean you should be wearing your sweatpants and a t-shirt.  Dress as you would for a job interview. After all, your audience is a hiring manager.

6. SMILE
   Yes…video might be a little intimidating. Most of us do not like to hear our own voice, let alone see ourselves on the video screen. Put that aside and remember to smile. It will help your voice have a more positive inflection and it will give your face energy and excitement about your topic.  No one wants to talk to someone who shows no energy or excitement for something they call their passion.

7. Set Up Your Camera
   You do not need a fancy camera to complete a video resume to add to your portfolio.  In many cases your cell phone camera will work. However, there are a few key steps to making sure you get a good shot.

• Use a tripod or something to stabilize your camera. No one wants to watch a jiggling video.
• Cameras are best at eye level. This will help the viewer to feel that you are giving them eye contact.  It will also prevent you from straining your neck up or down in an unnatural position.

8. Sound is Important
   Again, you don’t need a fancy microphone to get a good quality sound. However, you do want to make sure that you are heard and not muffled.  If your camera or phone doesn’t have a strong microphone, you may want to consider buying an inexpensive lapel microphone to help you drown out the background noise and allow the viewer to focus on what you have to say.

What do you think – did I miss anything? As important as video is today, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Continue the conversation by adding your ideas in the comments below.

*Even though these tips were created for job seekers, they can easily be used as a checklist for content creation, in general. Good Luck!

Author: Jennifer Radke

Jennifer Radke, CEO of NISM, is a dedicated, passionate and strategic business leader with 15+ years in sales and recruitment management, leadership, coaching, development and training. Most recently, she was the owner and chief strategist at Socially Inspired, a social media training and consulting company. In addition, she is an NISM-certified Social Media Strategist (SMS), serves on the board for Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota and can be found speaking and presenting to job seekers and businesses alike, on how to better utilize social media in the workplace. Jennifer believes that lifelong learning is the key to continued growth and your networks are the best way to expose yourself to new opportunities.