The Effects of Video and Paper Resumes on Assessments of Personality, Applied Social Skills, Mental Capability, and Resume Outcomes

• Published in: Basic and applied social psychology Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 238 - 251
• Main Authors: Waung, Marie, Hymes, Robert W., Beatty, Joy E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.2014; Taylor & Francis; Psychology Press
• Subjects: Applicants; Biological and medical sciences; Capabilities; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Personality; Personality tests; Personality traits; Personality. Affectivity; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Psychometrics; Resumes; Social psychology; Social skills; Video; Videotapes; Human; Personality test; Extraversion introversion; Methodology; Psychometrics; Personality; Experimental study; Agreeableness
• ISSN: 0197-3533; 1532-4834
• DOI: 10.1080/01973533.2014.894477

In this laboratory experiment we examined the effect of resume format (paper resume only, video resume only, or both) on applicant evaluation. Differences in applicant personality trait evaluation were found for extraversion and agreeableness when video resumes were reviewed compared to when only paper resumes were reviewed. In addition, social skill and mental capability ratings were lower when only video resumes were reviewed. These findings indicate that video resumes may result in different assessments of applicant personality and harsher evaluations of applicant skills and abilities than paper resumes. Human resource personnel are cautioned in the use of video resumes until more research has been completed.