Unemployed turn to public access commercials for work

Everyone used to ask, "What would you do for a Klondike bar?" But with unemployment on the rise, the new question seems "What would you do for a job?"

One group in Massachusetts has the answer: 30-second resume commercials. The venture, started by several unemployed people, wraps the video resumes into a half hour production called "The New England Job Show." The show runs twice a month on five public access channels, sadly without Wayne and Garth, and features tips for the unemployed.

The show's content is where the idea seems to stall. With the tag line, "By job seekers, for job seekers," it begs the question, why are unemployed people advertising on a show geared toward more unemployed people?

That's not to say that The Job Show is a waste of time. The professional-looking video resumes end up posted on YouTube and to The New England Job Show's elevator pitch blog, where hiring managers have a better chance of seeing them. On top of creating professional looking job commercials, the show staff helps coach the job seekers, resulting in a much better end product.

The 30-second spots do a good job of showcasing the candidates' experience, and more importantly, offer a glimpse at their personality. The ability to show a hiring manager that you're a personable individual and able to effectively communicate your thoughts is something a paper resume can't do.

Whether you go for a heartstring approach like one young Floridian or a more serious video resume like the elevator pitches being recorded in Massachusetts, it's important to keep it brief and to the point. A true video resume will be a little bit longer and require significant time and effort to be an asset to your job search. These 10 tips for a good video resume, as put together by recruiting expert Mike Nale, are a good place to start.

Just remember, a good video resume will showcase the real you and it will create your first impression so you're better off leaving the soundtrack to trained professionals like Barney Stinson.