Certify cards

Do's

Review and dissemination

"We give advice by the bucket, but take it by the grain."

Tom Stoppard

Do:

Get inspiration from online examples
Create a video when it's one of the application requirements
Look professional in front of the camera, wear appropriate clothing
Research the company/position you're applying for
Write a script, prepare notes
Get feedback from your peers, family, friends, co-workers (the more feedback the better)
Show your personality
Showcase relevant skills, expertise
Have fun!

Check out our learning platform!

Dealing with unwanted emotions

Self-management

“It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.”

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

We all have bad days but not everyone deals with them in the same way. You can be sure that in any workplace, you will have to deal with other people’s unwanted emotions as well as your own. If you pride yourself on being able to manage your emotions and maintain a healthy and pleasant work environment, you can mention this in your video CV. How? Try answering these questions for starters:

How do you deal with unwanted emotions, do you let them get in the way or do you maybe have a strategy how to manage them?
How do you manage unwanted emotions?
How do you deal with angry/agitated colleagues? Do you let their emotions transfer onto you? Or maybe you have methods/strategies how to calm your colleagues and help them?

Check out our learning platform!

Willingness to listen and understand different points of view

Flexibility

“We all look at the same object in different ways.”

Kehinde Wiley

Listening and trying to understand different opinions and points of view are crucial to ensure effective teamwork. However, this requires a certain level of flexibility and willingness to compromise. Here’s a couple of prompts that might help you demonstrate this skill:

How do you keep an open mind in a workplace?
How do you take criticism?
Even if you disagree with your colleagues are you willing to (for instance) try out their suggestions?
Would you consider yourself tolerant? Why?
Do you consider yourself an fair-minded person? Why?
Are you curious to hear what other people think?

Check out our learning platform!

Filming

Execution

“Before you say ‘cut,’ wait five more seconds.”

Wim Wenders

Filming Checklist: audio

Film in a quiet place in order to avoid background noise and interruptions.
Make sure that you’re not talking too fast and that you’re making pauses after each sentence/section.
If you can, use an external microphone

Filming Checklist: video

Film in a bright room.
Avoid filming outdoors.
Put the camera between the source of light and the subject.
Place your subject in the center of the frame, looking directly into the camera, with the eyes on approximately ⅔ of the height of the image.
Leave a little bit of headroom above the top of the head but not too much.
Avoid cluttered backgrounds.
Place your camera at the eye level of the subject.
Use a tripod, or mount the camera to something stable.
Do NOT use the zoom of your mobile phone
Adjust resolution settings of your camera and record in Full HD (1080p)
Sit 0,6-1m away from the camera

Check out our learning platform!

Don’t have professional equipment to film your video?

Execution

“I don't get tripped up in technology. I use technology as a tool.”

Spike Lee

Even if you do not own a camera and professional editing software, there’s plenty of resources that you consider. Here’s a couple of suggestions:

Visit your local library, Community center, youth center or contact NGOs that help people find employment
You can always rent or borrow equipment
Create a video using alternatives (ppt, online open-source tools, Blender, Google slides, iMovie ...)
Remember you do not have to use professional cameras to create a video, you can always record your video with your phone, tablet or your laptop.

Check out our learning platform!

Teamwork

Collaboration

"It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed."

Charles Darwin

Even if you work mostly independently, there will come a time when you’ll need to work with others. Here’s a couple of questions that might inspire you to highlight excellent teamworking skills:

Think of a time when you achieved something that was only possible as a team. What was it?
Have you ever joined a project midway? What did you do to blend in quickly? How did you manage to work effectively as a team member?
Would you consider yourself a team player? If you would, why?

Check out our learning platform!

Empathy

Self-management

“The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.”

Plato

Claire Cain Miller from The New York Times draws attention to recent research which shows "that empathy makes people better managers and workers, and better family members and friends. But it’s bigger than just its personal effect. We’re all in this together, and researchers say that connection and compassion are crucial to a sustainable and humane future. ". The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is a sought-after skill in all work environments. How do you cultivate empathy? How can you show your prospective employer? Here’s a couple of prompts that might help you get started:

Would you consider yourself empathetic?
Do you find it easy to understand other people’s feelings, emotions and problems?
Do you actively seek to develop empathy? How?(volunteering, reading books …)

Check out our learning platform!

Evaluation

Review and dissemination

"Evaluation is creation: hear it, you creators! Evaluating is itself the most valuable treasure of all that we value. It is only through evaluation that value exists: and without evaluation the nut of existence would be hollow. Hear it, you creators!"

Friedrich Nietzsche

After you finish your video and before you start planning how you can share it, it might be worth taking some time to evaluate your video. While a video CV can help your chances of getting a job it can also hurt 🤕 them. Here’s a short checklist of things to consider before sending out your video CV.

Did you introduce yourself at the beginning?
Did you highlight your strengths and/or achievements?
Did you emphasize why you would be the perfect candidate?
Is the sound quality ok?
Is video quality good enough?
Have you showed your video to at least 5 people (friends, colleagues, family, industry people…?) and got their feedback?
Do you think some people might find it inconsiderate or offensive?
Do you think that core competencies are highlighted?
Do people recognise you in the video? Is the video authentic and personal?