If you’re struggling to get hired, it could be worth submitting a video cover letter.
“Unlike traditional cover letters, a video cover letter lets you showcase your personality, skills, and experience in a way that’s unexpected, which can really help you stand out and make an impression,” Andrew McCaskill, a career expert at LinkedIn, told Business Insider.
Hundreds of Americans told BI how they’ve struggled to find work in the last year. While the unemployment rate remains low compared to historical levels, businesses are hiring at nearly the lowest rate since 2013, excluding a temporary dip in 2020. In response to these challenges, some Americans are trying alternative ways to stand out, such as recording video cover letters. McCaskill, along with career experts from Indeed and ZipRecruiter, told Business Insider that video cover letters could give candidates an edge in a challenging job market.
Similar to written cover letters, video versions allow applicants to introduce themselves, explain why they’re interested in the role, and share their qualifications. There isn’t much data on the prevalence of video cover letters, but the career experts BI spoke with said they’ve become more common since the pandemic — when employees grew more accustomed to virtual work.
To be sure, there’s some debate over how important a traditional cover letter is for today’s job seekers. However, the career experts BI spoke to said that for many, the potential rewards of a video cover letter are likely to outweigh the downsides.
What to consider when making a video cover letter
Sam DeMase, a career expert at ZipRecruiter, said that including an unprompted video cover letter isn’t “mainstream” yet but has become more common in recent years. She said the rise may have been driven by younger job seekers who may prefer video content — like TikTok and YouTube videos — to the written word.
“It lets candidates showcase personality, communication style, and presence — things that a résumé or even a written cover letter can’t fully capture,” DeMase said.
However, a video cover letter should supplement — not replace — a written cover letter, particularly when a company has a specific requirement for the latter, the career experts told BI.
DeMase said a video cover letter should be between 60 and 90 seconds and include a brief introduction of yourself, an explanation of how your skills and experience align with the job description — including a couple of specific examples — and why you’re excited about the role and company.
“Our data shows that the No. 1 thing employers care about is that you have aligned experience and skills,” DeMase said. “So that’s going to be the priority.”
DeMase and Priya Rathod, a career expert at Indeed, encouraged job seekers to write out a script but avoid reading directly from it. And be mindful of how quickly they’re speaking.
“You don’t want to speak too fast,” DeMase said. “That can come across as nervous, low confidence, and unprofessional.”
See below for an example video cover letter DeMase created and shared with Business Insider.
McCaskill stressed the importance of aesthetics: Make sure the video’s background isn’t distracting and that you’re dressed professionally. Additionally, he said it’s important to show your excitement for the role.
“The reality is companies want to hire people who want to work there,” he said. “Be yourself, show some passion, and clearly share why this specific role and company speak to you, your values, and where you want to take your career next.”
DeMase said you should film the video vertically on your phone and speak to the camera like you would on a video call. She recommended uploading the video to YouTube as an unlisted video, which can only be viewed by someone with the link.
While speaking to the camera should suffice, DeMase said people who have video editing skills could consider including visual representations of their work — or finding other ways to get creative. McCaskill pointed to a “standout example” of a highly produced video cover letter posted last year on LinkedIn by Marta Puerto, a job seeker who was looking for a product marketing position.
“Her video went viral and landed her hundreds of interview requests and a job,” he said.
For applicants who include a written cover letter, DeMase suggested putting the link at the top of their cover letter with a note saying something like, “If you prefer to watch a short video of me highlighting why I think I’m a great fit for this position, click here.” For applicants who decide not to include a written cover letter, she said placing the link at the top of their résumé next to their contact information is a good option.
Video cover letters may not be a fit for everyone
The career experts BI spoke to said video cover letters could be particularly helpful for customer-facing roles or jobs that require strong communication skills.
“For those in media, marketing, or creative industries, a high-quality video cover letter can also double as a portfolio piece, showcasing your skills in film production or content creation,” Rathod said.
A LinkedIn representative shared an example video cover letter made by Curtis Ying, a graphic and web design professional who applied for — and landed — a job at Adobe last year.
DeMase said video cover letters could also be helpful for applicants in industries like business consulting, marketing, and tech. However, she cautioned against the practice for some older job seekers.
“I think when you’re older, sending a video could open you up to potential age discrimination, which a lot of folks deal with,” she said.
Lastly, use your judgment when deciding to submit a video cover letter. If an employer is “super old school” or you’re not confident speaking on camera, you may want to reconsider, DeMase said.
“Done well, a video cover letter can help you stand out and leave a lasting impression with hiring managers,” Rathod said.
Have video cover letters or other creative job search strategies helped you land interviews or a job offer? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
The post A video cover letter could help you stand out in a tough job market. Here’s how to make one. appeared first on Business Insider.
