Guidelines for self-projection during the interviews/video resumes

Follow these elements and guidelines to give an impressive and impactful self-projection during the
interview.

Self-introduction is a chance given to the candidate to not only to introduce himself/herself but also to show
their best side to the interviewer. It should be formed by remembering the industry that you aim for. It shall
become the base of many of the interview questions that follow and especially during video resume, it may
be a deciding factor for getting shortlisted for the actual interview. Hence lot of thought should be put into it.

Following are the elements of an effective self-introduction for interviews and video resume:-

 Introduction – Name, education, city/hometown.

The above-mentioned information should be kept simple. One must not try to over explain here. In
education, mainly one must highlight the last degree pursued or the current one that is being pursued. If
the percentage throughout had been really good, then the candidate can even highlight the same. A
simple one liner including – {My name is …., I am from…., I am pursuing ….. from ….. - } is also enough.

 Aim- short term and long-term goals , related with your discipline of study.
Short term aim consists of the small goals that need to be achieved in order to ultimately achieve the
long-term goal. It should also be related to the degree that the candidate is pursuing currently. Something
completely deviating from it will only show the carelessness of the candidate.

Here an example can be given that if a student wants to become a General Manager, it is his long-term
goal. A lot of certifications will be needed to be done on the path to achieve this goal. Some amount of
work experience and trainings will also be required. Some skills will need to be polished and upgraded as
well. Hence these steps can be highlighted as short-term goals. By highlighting short term goals, a student
looks more promising to the recruiter. This way the recruiter will know the fact that the long-term goal is
serious and not just a dream. The candidate knows how to reach it and is taking the possible steps as well.

 Work Experience/Internship/Live Projects/Certifications

A- Work Experience/Internship/Live Projects – It is highly important to explain the work done,
knowledge gained, skills acquired, challenges overcome and achievements during work
experience/internship and live projects. This should be spoken/mentioned up in the order of speech
as it is the only industry exposure that a fresher may have had. Hence it is highly imperative to
highlight the internship/live projects during introduction.
B- Certification – It is an important element to explain as it highlights the passion to learn and remain
updated with latest skills and knowledge in addition to the regular academic knowledge of the
candidate. The students should explain the knowledge/skill acquired, mention focus areas/topics of
certification and also if he/she has applied the knowledge practically in some project or assignment.

 Achievements/ extracurricular activities- school /college/university level (preferably college/university

level), achievements/activities, what skills did the trainee develop during these activities.
Throughout the interview, the interviewer tries to find some glimpses of the role the candidate is getting
hired for. The candidate can make a great impression by highlighting the role, events or the activities
through which the candidate has learnt skills that he can use in the work place. The student should
highlight positions of responsibilities held (Club president, event coordinator, anchor, CR etc.),
achievements, being part of societies/groups (NSS,NCC, Sports etc.) and also mention

 Hobbies- what is your hobby, example of how do you pursue your hobbies.

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 Through this, the candidate can show the interviewer, how one utilizes one’s free time. Ideally activities
that are productive like book reading, shooting, basketball, poetry, etc. should be highlighted.
Non-productive activities like Movie Watching, Chatting, Shopping should be avoided.

 Interests- area of interest, how does it benefit you.

Interests can ideally be related to field the person wishes to get into. Here the required skills as well as
specializations/topics can be highlighted. Like if a person is planning to get into finance field, he can say
he is interested to know more about stock market, investment banking etc. One may talk about interest in
learning the practical aspect of any theoretical concept studied during the course.
 Interests can also be productive hobbies that a trainee would like to build in the coming times. For
example: I am interested in learning about the art of public speaking, playing guitar, etc.

 Qualities- your strengths, skills, give example of your strengths/skills, include usage of skill/strengths in
past - where it helped you. The qualities derived in MBTI test may be used here. The qualities and skills
can be domain specific or general.

The student should remember to add atleast one skill that will directly help him or her in career (domain
specific). For example: A finance student would benefit a lot if he highlights his analytical or logical skills.
A marketing person would benefit a lot by highlighting extroversion and creativity.

Do’s and don’ts of producing a video resume

Just as font, size, and formatting are important for a traditional resume, internship seekers who know
how to produce and edit a quality video (or can hire someone to do it) have a big advantage. To help you,
and your video, look their best, follow our tips and tricks:
Do …
• Shoot your video on a tripod or use your webcam.
• Use proper lighting. Computer screens tend to make videos look darker, so added brightness can
improve image quality.
• Film close-up, against a solid color surface. Avoid prints and remove any clutter in the background.
• Dress in professional business attire, just as you would for an interview.
• Keep your video short, no more than 1–3 minutes in length.
• Look directly into the camera and remember to smile.
• Make sure there isn’t any background noise (like music, talking, or phones).
• Practice what you’re going to say ahead of time, so that you speak naturally and clearly.
• Review your video and edit it, so that it’s polished and succinct.
Don’t …
• Speak too quickly.
• Wear heavy makeup or distracting accessories.
• Gesture with your hands too much, as it can be distracting.
• Use phrases such as “like,” “um,” or “ah” too often. If you’re about to use one of these, just pause for a
moment, and then resume talking.
• Mix your personal life with your professional. Stay focused on how you can add value for the company.
• Expect your video resume to replace your traditional resume. Some employers don’t utilize video
resumes due to concerns about discrimination issues, i.e., hiring candidates because of how they look and
sound rather than based on their qualifications. However, a well-done video can boost your chances in
many fields.

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