How to Make a Video Resumé

With a computer and a smartphone, you can make an engaging video that can help you stand out in a job hunt if done well. Doing it well—that's the rub. Having an iPhone doesn't make me Spielberg. And most of us haven't made a video before.

Back in the Spring, a professor at the graduate school at which I work and I hatched a plan to train graduating seniors to create their own "video resumé". Our goal was to empower them to use their smartphones and computers to make a quality short film with a clear, coherent message. I lectured and led workshops, covering storyboarding, cinematography, editing, and distribution, with the result that over 15% of the students produced a video—up from 2% the previous term.

I translated my presentation and workshops into an online guide for the benefit of anyone who might be interested.