Cinume

A cinume is another word for a video resume. Video resumes were first thought of in the 1980s for use and transmission via VHS. The idea never took off. However, with the modern capabilities of transmitting streaming video via the internet, video resumes have taken on new popularity. With the advancement in streaming video technology, the use of cinumes has become a useful tool for both job candidates and employers alike. In this regard, Stephen J. Dubner, a blogger for the New York Times and an author of Freakonomics had this to say about the virtues of cinumes.

I am currently in the process of hiring a new assistant. (Yes, Nicole has been here for more than a year, and I vow at the outset to hold no assistant captive for much longer than that.) I posted an ad on Craig’s List and received roughly 200 resumes. Many of them are impressive. From an anthropological standpoint, nearly every single one is interesting, just to see the kind of skills and traits that people use as employment signals. I had no idea, for instance, that Eagle Scout membership would show up on so many young men’s resumes.
But what’s most striking to me is the disparity between what a person looks like on paper and what they’re like in person. We touched on this notion briefly in Freakonomics – the fact that a resume is a pretty unreliable set of clues. But it goes beyond that. When you’re hiring someone, their personal manner, attitude, quickness, humor, curiosity, and a few dozen other traits are really important. And you get almost none of that on a paper resume.

In light of the fact that a cinume may be a job applicant's first impression to the potential employer, there are certain standards on how to make a professional cinume. Important tips to keep in mind include the following

1. Dress professionally in business attire, just as if you were going to an in-person interview.
2. Keep your video resume short: one - three minutes.
3. Look at the camera not at the desk or table below you.
4. Don't speak too fast.
5. Make sure there isn't any background noise and that the wall behind you isn't too busy.
6. Practice what you're going to say ahead of time.
7. Start by mentioning your name (first and last).
8. Focus on your professional endeavors, not your personal ones.
9. Discuss why you would be a good employee and what you can do for the company that hires you.
10. Thank the viewer for considering you for employment.
11. Be sure to include a link to your cinume on your paper resume.

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