Advertorial: The Next In Thing?

I am a staunch believer in first impressions, regardless of whether does the impression changed after interactions, because first impressions dictates if I choose to interact with you in the first place. I think the same goes for finding a job. Which was why using a neo-print photo, or having rainbow-coloured fonts wouldn't get you your dream job unless that's a requirement.  

But what does a piece of paper tell employers?

It immediately squashed us into some 2-dimensional person who only knows how to use the standard templates that we googled. How does one shows that he/she is more than that even though he/she didn't actively participate in CCAs/ charity work etc? Because things like hobbies doesn't come under the "norm" and shouldn't a commitment and interest in your hobbies count towards your character too?

In case you haven't heard about the next internet trend, it's video resumes that had been trending in the States for 3 years already. 

Guess what? We have our very own portal in Singapore too!

don't you love the name? Prevview is kinda apt, since employers are only looking at your 90 seconds video, that's a 90 secs preview of your whole life and V stands for videos :) 

As part of the team's effort, they stated a visume war! Of course prizes to be won :) 

The only 2 reasons that I wouldn't be participating is because a) I am so kind, I want to let other people win (gah!) and b) I have a job already :) 

Prizes are really great and technology-related

1st prize: Ipad 2 64G+3G 

HOW COOL IS THAT?

People queue to buy it but you can get it for freeeeeeee

2nd prize: Samung Galaxy Tab

Not a fan of this... but if you are, JOIN THE CONTEST 

3rd prize: Canon Digital IXUS 220HS

ok, I don't know what color they will choose but I thought the red one looks catchy and chic. 

See! First Impressions at work again! 

Before you rush in to the warzone, check out http://www.prevview.com/index.php/visume_tips

to learn about the dos and don'ts of visume. Yes like a normal resume there are unwritten rules to follow. Employers generally don't appreciate seeing you stark naked for 90 secs or heinous makeup, agree?

So after looking through some warriors' video, I thought this was one of the better ones

http://www.prevview.com/visumewars/index.php/user/profile/AfwYLXLgVm

Why ?

1. Clean and non-complicated background. (try making your potential employers listen to you over "next stop... Orchard" that's an immediate X for you)
2. Decent video quality (the whole point of the video is to see how you look like not counting how many pixels)
3. Decent appearance (see the above stark naked point)
4. Sounding sincere 
5. No "standard" answers or overly lame jokes (why say things that you normally put in resumes or cracking jokes that maybe your potential 40, 50 year old employer cannot understand? )

Anyway do check out http://www.prevview.com/visumewars/ if you want to get your techie gadgets for free! All the best!