Why Video Is Inappropriate For Resumes/Job Applications

The latest TikTok craze – video resumes – is such a BAD idea that I want to tackle the reasons why – at least in North America, the ?UK and Ireland and a host of other countries (a full list can be found here) – video resumes SHOULD NOT be used.

The law prohibits EVALUATION by employers based on age, ethnicity, religion, disability, family/marital status, gender/identity, and sexual orientation.

Let’s look at some examples of how video resumes could lead an employer to violate these laws based on visual clues:

·???????The woman from Minneapolis in a hijab

·???????The black woman from Atlanta with natural hair

·???????The middle-aged Sikh in a turban in Seattle

·???????The 65-year old Asian man looking for a retirement career

·???????The 8-months pregnant single mother that is the sole breadwinner for her family

·???????The recent college graduate in a wheelchair.

All of these could be visually biased against without them even getting a chance to speak to someone.

The purpose of a resume is to showcase a person’s functional skills and experience as it relates to a specific job. When all resumes are written, there is at least a somewhat more level playing field for recruiters and hiring managers to start with.

So unless you are in the entertainment industry and sharing your demo reel (which is usually part of your portfolio, not your resume) then forget about video resumes.