The resume tape: VHS, DVD or website?

[bengal]

I know it's been asked a million times, but we're changing every day, so I'll ask again: Do news directors prefer VHS, DVD or a website link? It would save a ton of money (and I think save news director's a ton of time) if I just sent them an email, attach my resume, and hyperlink my website (which has the tape). Would that be looked at as innovative or a mistake?

[Basically A Nice Guy]

I have seen the future of the resume tape.

And it is YouTube.

[11-Evil]

Unless the IT Department blocks You Tube. Or the ND doesnt have your "player" or version of your "player" installed. Flash maybe not on the ND's computer, maybe not even Windows Media Player's current version. Quick Time - forget it.

Do you want to take that chance? You KNOW they all have access to a VHS machine. Even burned DVD's don't play in all systems. DVD+, DVD-, DVD Ram, etc.

[Mr. Pratfall]

Oh great. I have apparently traveled back in time to August 2006.

[Pinkie]

An online resume tape is a handy thing to have so you can casually e-mail it. But if you're applying for a job opening, a VHS tape is still the way to go.

[Roy Hobbs]

You can't beat a 3/4 inch U-matic tape.
http://www.itworks.com/images/brick-umatic.jpg
They come with their own hard case mailing box you can slap a mailing label on, your resume and cover letter fit inside with just one fold, and it will sit nicely on top of a VHS tape machine!

[MichaelPS]

The first answer is that you should have all of the above, because everyone is asking for different things.

It's hard to believe, I know, but in 2007, the default (for now) is VHS. DVD players have real problems because the DVD standard was never actually ratified by the IEEE for consumer media. The upshot of this is that any DVD that is NOT pressed from a glass master is not guaranteed to work on all DVD players. And the only way you'll find out if your DVD didn't work is if someone takes the time to tell you. Also, VHS actually has an advantage over DVD. You can stop it, pull the tape out, and pick up where you left off. With a DVD, you have to find your place again if you remove the disc from the player. Plus, it takes longer to load. Most ND's I talk to say they're a waste of time. For now.

And although I feel like I'm stepping into the wayback machine...

The YouTube *concept* is solid, and I think something like it will be a key part of the tv resume process. As noted above, it has problems. But I tell all of my clients that having a web page is a smart idea, and not just because it's good for business :). I recommend it because it's an excellent backup. It's great to give a ND a head's up that your tape is on the way and in the meantime, please look at the page. It's better for conferences, because everyone takes a laptop with them and nobody wants to lug around 50 tapes from prospective job seekers. It's easy to update and relatively easy to access.

Michael Schwartz
Trailhead Productions, LLC

[overthehill]

Don't let the tail wag the dog here.

Send the format requested by the job opening. Don't try to force "your" format on them.

The majority of places still want/take VHS. More and more are using DVD. A few NDs will use YouTube or streamed resume videos. The evolution is definitely not complete yet.

For instance: when a ND is trying to fill a reporter position and requested VHS resumes, who do you think WON'T get looked at quickly? The DVD and YouTube people who fight the ND's system.

[ August 23, 2007, 07:32 AM: Message edited by: overthehill ]

[MichaelPS]

Apologies, overthehill. I should have specified that point up front. I was just explaining in positives and negatives of both. First and foremost, of course, is to send what they want.

[thenewsleader12345]

nobody gives a damn. I send DVD's and they get watched. My ND looks at both. If he gets a DVD he pops it in his computer.. a VHS.. in the VCR.

[MichaelPS]

I respectfully disagree.

If that has worked for you, I can't argue with success. However, if a job listing specifically says "send VHS" and the applicant sends a DVD, there will be problems.

[TAFKA wacowx]

Originally posted by happynews:
nobody gives a damn. I send DVD's and they get watched. My ND looks at both. If he gets a DVD he pops it in his computer.. a VHS.. in the VCR.Why would anyone in his or her right mind limit his or her ability to land a job? And how do you know your DVDs get watched? Sure, your ND may have no problems with a DVD, but for many it is a process.

Try this experiment (which I have mentioned here many times before so I apologize if it's old news): Take 10 VHS tapes and watch the first 15 seconds of them....now take 10 home-burned DVDs and do the same on your home DVD player. I guarantee it will take you at least three times as long...maybe even 4-5 times as long since loading a DVD to get it ready to play can take as long as 20 seconds for each disc while VHS tapes are ready to go after what? 2 seconds? Plus that above-mentioned ability to stop at a specific point is golden in some cases (ND wants to show the GM a specific scene/story and runs the tape into his/her office). Couple this with some folks that are looking for jobs are setting up DVDs which start off with an opening menu...adding yet more frustration time to eat away at time the ND could be watching a resume. Why frustrate? Why 'buck the system'? Do EVERYTHING you can to make it as easy as possible for the ND to watch your materials and to give YOU the job.

[NwsRdr]

The benefit many of our clients have discovered with an on-line resume is the ability to cast a wide net and determine which news directors actually have an interest before spending the time and money to send out tapes.
Works like this:
Send an e-mail to as many News Directors as you like inviting them to your website. Heck, e-mails are free. Send an invitation to every news director in the country if you choose. Those who like what they see will contact you. Then you follow up by sending them whatever they ask for - VHS, DVD etc.
In short, this method is an efficient way to learn who are some of the "qualified buyers" rather than spending a lot of money sending out tape after tape to news directors who are looking for someone other than you.
It is not the only strategy to employ as part of your job search...but an increasinly important one.
I can't argue with the results as you can see here:
Success Stories (http://www.talentapes.com/success-stories.html)
If you have any questions about any of this, feel free to contact me.
Rich Everitt,
President
TALENTapes
Rich@talentapes.com

[Galaxian]

Unless the job posting or news director specifies a format, ALWAYS use VHS.

[Purplehaze]

I recently had to choose between two offers.
With both, I did not send a tape or DVD. They found my video clip online here (thanks, Mark!) and didn't need to see more because it was a complete reel. However, they were stations that I had been in contact with before. Having my tape online just indicated to them that I was looking again. I've never believed in sending tapes blindly for openings.

And even if a news director doesn't seem too impressed by your work, but takes the time to tell you what you need to improve, keep in contact. One of the offers was from an ND who definitely did not like my work a few years ago, but I did what he suggested. His was the one I turned down, but I will keep in touch with him.

Now I have 15 DVDs and a handful of VHS tapes gathering dust.

[ August 23, 2007, 11:30 AM: Message edited by: Purplehaze ]

[Clever Login Name]

Originally posted by Mr. Pratfall:
Oh great. I have apparently traveled back in time to August 2006.Lay some money down on the Cards to win the Series while you're there.

[Mr. Pratfall]

Originally posted by Clever Login Name:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Mr. Pratfall:
Oh great. I have apparently traveled back in time to August 2006.Lay some money down on the Cards to win the Series while you're there.</font>[/QUOTE]Nah, they're going to choke.

[east coast producer]

I agree with MichaelPS (of Trailhead) and NwsRdr (of TalenTapes) -- as well as the rest of the posters who say send the tape on the format requested.

As some of you know, I'm "on the beach." I wish it were a real beach given the time of the year, but, alas, being in the Philadelphia market the best I can do is the Jersey shore. And I don't really think that qualifies as a beach, especially compared to my time working in Florida (despite Charlie, Jeanne, Frances and Ivan).

From my experience, I haven't had one ND, AND or PE (depending on market) specifically request a VHS. Most job postings request a DVD (finally) or, at least, a DVD or VHS. A shrinking minority request VHS. I saw one today or yesterday that requested Beta. I send DVD by default. It's far easier on me, reduces postage costs (first class w/ a DVD runs me $1.13 plus 18 cents delivery confirmation). A VHS easily doubles that. DVDs are far easier to duplicate and produce, and the quality is lossless.

You can determine the shamefullness of this plug yourself, but I operate Rollcue.tv (http://www.rollcue.tv?ml) where, much like the superior Medialine, offers candidates to post their auto-play videos online alongside their resume for a very reasonable price, along with supplemental video. Premium packages can include hours of video, a private domain name for an easy-to-remember address (joesmith.com, for example), private email and visitor tracking.

One client had hundreds of hits from mostly Clear Channel and Hearst (this was unique to this particular client) seeking out the supplemental video. From the tracking logs, I can tell the client's address was passed along to others in the newsroom based on the differing IP addresses. It's far simpler for a ND to ask others to weigh in on a tape by sending them to a web site rather than asking them to take turns taking a VHS home each night.

Hearst, Clear Channel, Tribune, FOX/News Corp., Disney, Meredith, Sunbelt, Belo, CBS Television Stations, Scripps, Journal, Media General, plus countless individual stations that I've been able to identify have made thousands of hits on the sites of various clients.

As a previous poster said, it's a great supplement to a DVD/VHS -- and a web address is far easier to pass around the newsroom than a tape. From my personal experience, some wholly prefer the online version and don't ask for a tape. Some do. The real advantage of it is first, you're indexed by Google and other search engines plus you can include your web address in any correspondence with a potential hiring manager. Especially given the emphasis of developing web presence among broadcast stations today, it demonstrates you recognize the importance of exploiting all the technology available to you.

To reiterate what an earlier poster said, when you're sending an email to a ND/AND/EP that your tape's on the way, why not direct them in the meantime to your web site?

I recommend against YouTube and MySpace since it has an unprofessional stignma, but any of the dedicated web services to broadcast professional (talent, producers, directors, photographers, editors, etc.) produce good work -- be it Medialine, Trailhead, TalenTapes or Rollcue.tv (http://www.rollcue.tv?ml).

My advice -- as someone on the beach and in an intensive job search -- follow the directions in the posting and send your stuff by the method posted, but have a professional online presence to tide the hiring manager over while the tape arrives and to demonstrate you recognize the importance of digital media. It's also a great idea for "carpet bombing" -- contacting stations without posted openings.

Oh yea -- Rollcue.tv (http://www.rollcue.tv?ml)! lol.

[gdiamante]

Just going through this now as I try to hire an anchor. I specified DVD or weblink to an online resume in my ad. I still received some VHS tapes which have not been viewed because I'm probably the only ND in the country who DOESN'T have a VHS machine in the office. I did view one VHS at home.

I did receive some DVDs and a lot of weblinks. But...one or two of the weblinks didn't play on my desktop computer because I didn't have the right player. And I don't have the rights to install new player programs. Asking IT to do it means waiting till they can get to it. So a few web resumes didn't get viewed.

All the DVDs got viewed. Yes, it took a little time but it wasn't that onerous.

[Roy Hobbs]

Originally posted by NwsRdr:
The benefit many of our clients have discovered with an on-line resume is the ability to cast a wide net and determine which news directors actually have an interest before spending the time and money to send out tapes.
Works like this:
Send an e-mail to as many News Directors as you like inviting them to your website. Heck, e-mails are free. Send an invitation to every news director in the country if you choose. Those who like what they see will contact you. Then you follow up by sending them whatever they ask for - VHS, DVD etc.
In short, this method is an efficient way to learn who are some of the "qualified buyers" rather than spending a lot of money sending out tape after tape to news directors who are looking for someone other than you.
It is not the only strategy to employ as part of your job search...but an increasinly important one.
I can't argue with the results as you can see here:
Success Stories (http://www.talentapes.com/success-stories.html)
If you have any questions about any of this, feel free to contact me.
Rich Everitt,
President
TALENTapes
Rich@talentapes.comRich and his service rock but I confess I'm still trying to discern just what a TalentApe is.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/04/12/218496751_wideweb__470x467,0.jpg

You gotta love the jungle-friendly video interface, though.

[NwsRdr]

"Roy"...I am glad you continue to believe our service rocks! (Perhaps I should ask Alec another "T.")
Rich Everitt
web page (http://www.talentapes.com)
(706) 364 7564

[Media Hack]

I ask for, and wish to receive, VHS tapes. They take less time to watch and have a much higher success rate. Too often, DVDs are the wrong format and I don't have the time to try and figure it out. Unless the VHS breaks during transit, I know it will work.

VHS also makes it easier to get my GM to watch it. He's not exactly handy with the computer to check out YouTube.

[Fearmonger]

I say do it via YouYube for a simple but important reason. Do you really want to work for some outfit who has an ND or HR person not smart enough to click on a YouTube link? Imagine the crappy equipment they have on hand if they nust have a tape.