So, you are an international job seeker looking to make it big in the Canadian job market? Great! Just by setting your mind to it, you have already taken the first step towards making that dream real.
However, you probably won’t be surprised by the fact that you are one of thousands of newcomers with the exact same aspiration. After all, Canada welcomed upwards of 1.3 million new permanent immigrants from 2016 to 2021 and plans to continue this trend in the near future. This makes competition for jobs difficult and requires that each candidate be extremely competent in not only their field of expertise but also in keeping up with industry trends and evolving HR practices.
As always, SkilledWorker is here to provide you with a competitive edge. In this article, we are going to discuss an innovative recruitment tool that has gained traction in recent years (especially since COVID-19) – the video CV. Here are six ways why a video CV can put you at the forefront of digital hiring:
1. Create a Good First Impression
A traditional CV will highlight your best qualities and relevant experiences (which you may have plenty of, no doubt), but it fails to create a personal connection with the employer. In other words, it fails to make your application memorable – so it’s just another file on a stack of identical files.
A video CV, however, gives you control over making a good first impression. You choose which video is submitted, and – because you put time and effort into making yourself, your communication skills, and your personality stand out – you remain memorable in the hiring manager’s mind.
2. Demonstrate Your Language Proficiency
Naturally, actions speak louder than words, and so it is better to show the hiring manager how comfortable you are with English and/or French rather than simply making claims about how good you are at them.
They are going to find out either way during the interview, but most people do not even reach that stage of the hiring process. You need to make your application as compelling as possible from the get-go, which requires you to demonstrate your language proficiency in your video CV. For international job seekers, this can be the “make or break” component of your job application.
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Read More:
Here Are the Top 10 Most Diverse Cities in Canada Due to Immigration
Learn How to Build Your Canadian-Style Resume: The 8 Do’s and 8 Don’ts
10-Step Guide to Master the Online Interview
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3. Showcase Your Technological Awareness
Being technologically up-to-date is the bare minimum for most jobs nowadays, considering how quickly trends and tools change. By making a video CV, you can show that you are not only aware of the recent rise in their popularity, but also that you possess the digital skills needed to create one yourself. This could prove to be extremely advantageous for industries where remote work and digital communication are becoming increasingly prevalent.
4. Cultural Awareness
The modern workplace is more global than ever, and working in an international setting requires you to show a high level of cultural awareness and sensitivity. Through your video CV, you can highlight your understanding of different cultures, as well as your openness to diverse work environments. This can be extremely advantageous in industries where global collaboration is the norm.
5. Demonstrate That You are Innovative
A traditional resume’s restricted protocol requires it to be succinct, to-the-point, and bland. A video CV provides you with the opportunity to distinguish yourself as a creative, out-of-the-box thinker who does shy away from displaying their personality.
6. Be Different in A Competitive Landscape
You are a hiring manager. You have spent hours – no – days looking at CVs submitted for a particular role at your company. They all resemble each other in appearance – blank, white pages with blocks of black text, two pages in length on average.
And then you stumble upon a video of a charismatic, professionally dressed candidate speaking directly to you. There is no way that you will forget this person. You might even call them in just for their bold choice of CV.
Point being, in a job market that is saturated with applicants, differentiating yourself is crucial. A well-crafted video CV sets you apart from the competition by providing a unique and memorable snapshot of who you are. Tell your story in your own words, and you are sure to impress.
