New Video Service for Job Seekers

A new type of online job board has debuted at Azooca.com. Yes, Azooca does the usual by offering a platform wherein job seekers and employers can find each other and communicate. But it also offers job seekers the capability of building a resume as well as a bank of cover and thank you letters.

But that's not all. Azooca also offers job postings and a job search agent. Best of all, though, is it's video platform. Azooca gives job seekers the chance to upload their own job search videos as a way of getting the attention of hiring managers. Whether to showcase answers to prospective interview questions or to highlight samples of your work, video offers you a way to go beyond the traditional bounds of resumes and cover letters in the battle to get the attention of hiring managers.

Azooca is a brand-new service which just opened its doors to job seekers, so we have yet to see what response employers and job seekers will have to their innovative take on job boards. But I predict that employers will enjoy the video format if the job seekers who use video take the time to make theirs as professional as possible.

If the idea of video appeals to you, try one or more of these ideas:

• Pull together a list of 5-6 interview questions you are likely to be asked in your field.
• Have a friend interview you on video to give you a chance to interact with someone while you respond to the questions you have selected.
• Make sure you have also prepared stellar responses to your sample questions.
• As you would with a face-to-face interview, make sure you dress well, look the interviewer in the eye, speak clearly, and project your personality in a positive manner.
• Although video offers you the opportunity to edit your performance, be careful with this function - you don't want the resulting video to be visually choppy. If you don't like how it turns out, opt instead to retape.

Once you've recorded a sample interview, there are other ways to utilize a service such as Azooca.com's. Tape yourself sharing:

• A brief professional bio
• Your achievements history
• Samples of your professional work
• Interviews of your professional references
• Your commentary on one or more issues of import in your career field or industry

Get the idea? Video can be a tool to set you apart in a crowded job market, but only if you use it wisely.