Standing in front of the camera for the first time is nerve wracking, no matter how confident you are. But video is exploding in recruitment right now, so if you want to get top talent to notice you, you’ll need to face your fears and get camera-ready.
Whether you want to use video in your outreach strategy or as a way to promote yourself on social media - if you approach it with uncertainty, you’ll come across like a deer in headlights, not a recruiter in the lime light.
So, here are some tips that will give you the confidence you need to start making videos that win you candidates…
Watch loads of video content
You can learn a lot from watching other people shine onscreen. When I first started making videos I was extremely camera-shy, but after watching some of my colleagues do it, I learned that the trick to looking confident in front of the camera is to inject some energy into how you speak. You can never have too much energy onscreen!
Watch video content by vloggers and online recruitment influencers – they’ll set a high standard that you can learn from and bring your fears into perspective, as you’ll see that in reality, there’s nothing they’re doing that you can’t do too.
It’s a good idea to watch video outtakes and bloopers as well as the edited final product too. Bloopers are a great reminder that no video is perfect on the first take; everyone giggles, gets flustered or stumbles on their words. Mistakes aren’t the end of the world, and it’s normal to need a few takes before you get it right – you’re only human!
Set yourself up for an early win
For your first video, focus on a topic you’re really confident in and keep it short and to the point. That way, you won’t need to memorise lots of information and what you say will come to you quite naturally.
If you’re using video for candidate or client outreach, send your first videos to some prospects who are really warm to your brand or that you’ve worked with in the past. These friendly targets are likely to respond positively, giving you some early wins that'll boost your confidence.
You'll soon seen that you don’t need to be a social media influencer to make the camera work for you – you just need to care about what you’re talking about and be yourself.
Always write a script
No matter how short your videos are, it’s always good to write a script. You don’t need to memorise it or read it out word-for-word, but just writing a script will help get your ideas focused and give you more confidence when the camera’s in front of your face.
Try to keep your script conversational and write it the way you speak, this’ll bring warmth to what you say and make your video more engaging to viewers.
That said, it doesn’t matter whether you write a full script or just a bulleted list to keep you on track - the important thing is to have your ideas written down as this will stop you tripping over your words and ensure you deliver the key points you plan to say.
Get used to seeing yourself onscreen
It’s always a bit awkward watching yourself onscreen, but don’t let it hold you back. It’s the same for everyone; from an actor on the big screen to you as a recruiter wanting to make a lasting impression on your audience.
When you see yourself on video for the first time, it’s natural that your initial instinct is to cringe. This is because whilst you’re used to seeing yourself in a mirror, hearing your own voice talk back to you can feel a bit uncanny and give your confidence a bit of a wobble.
Everyone experiences this kind of stage fright, but the key to overcoming it is to keep watching yourself back so you get used to seeing yourself onscreen. This is who you are, be proud of that!
Practice (it really does make perfect)
The more videos you make, the more natural it will feel to be on camera - another reason to keep watching your videos back to see how you can improve.
One of the most important skills to practice is the art of looking directly into the lens to give your viewers direct eye contact as it helps you connect with your audience and hold their attention.
There could be other little tweaks that’ll make your video content more engaging. Could you speak more slowly, smile a bit more or even become slightly more animated with your body language? How you say something is just as important as what you say, and the only way to perfect the ‘how’ is through practice and focusing on making small improvements to your presentation.
It won't take long until you're confident in front of camera and ready to expand your video strategy. Download the eBook to learn some different ways to use video to stand out to candidates.
