There are some things to keep in mind, however. If you get called to the interview, bring a copy of the DVD with you, as well as a laptop computer. Have the DVD in the computer (which should be in sleep mode only; do not turn it off) and ready to go. If you make them wait while you boot up your computer to show them your DVD, you can pretty much kiss your job opportunity good-bye. But showing them the DVD in person may also be redundant. You'll have to feel the situation out and decide during the interview if it is an appropriate step. So it would be helpful to have something on the DVD that you can show them in no other way. For example, role play a few possible sales scenarios with a willing assistant. It's not enough simply to make yourself stand out for the sake of standing out. Your video resume should only be used if there is no other way to get across the information you think will help you land a job.

Now, some jobs applications require a DVD presentation. These are typically jobs in the video or film fields, and can extend to advertising, website design, and so on. In this case, they are usually called “reels”—and the video is essentially a portfolio of your best samples of work. It's important to build your reel like a print artist would build a portfolio. It should be a fluid piece of work, changing periodically to better represent where you are as an artist today. Therefore, be sure to include your most up to date projects. Do not say things like, “this piece only took me two hours,” or “I was really rushed here, but it turned out.” Let your work speak for itself—don't editorialize, because your potential employers honestly won't care. They only care about the kind of product you can create for them. And while you will probably have already given them a reel in order to get an interview, if you do indeed get interviewed, be sure to follow the steps above, and bring a laptop with the DVD loaded and ready to go.

In both cases, it is best to know that if you screw it up, you're going to look like a fairly large fool. So know what you're doing and test incessantly beforehand. Also, make sure you aren't exporting your video files as anything exclusively Mac or PC-based (since you have no idea what kind of machines your potential employers might be working on). If you're burning a regular, watchable DVD (as opposed to a data file), avoid fancy title screens. Keep it simple, and you limit the potential for crashing and burning.

The video resume is a big risk, with potentially big payoff. In order to maximize your chances of success you need to be well informed, careful, and patient. Be particular about when you use your video resume. Treat it as a tool on your belt and use only when it's the right one for the job. Employers are usually savvy enough not to be impressed by gimmicks. But, if you do it right, you will add another weapon to your arsenal, make yourself more memorable, and potentially increase your chances of finding a good job.

Now that you have read about Video Resumes and Building a Reel, may we suggest that you take the next step and check out Reel World. It is important to us that we are able to help people as they recover and prosper after job loss, so please contact us with suggestions, corrections, and even your personal experiences. If you found this article or video to be helpful, we'd love for you to share it with a friend. Also, be sure to check out all of the amazing resources for your career transition in the  ILostMyJob.com Book Store!

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