Important Things to Remember
Use a video resume to show your personality as an "extra piece," but never let it take the place of your normal, easy-to-scan resume.
Only bother making a video if the job requires strong talking skills, like jobs in sales, marketing, or management.
Keep your video under a minute and a half so you grab the hiring manager's attention but don't take up too much of their time.
Make sure your sound is clear and the lighting is good. Bad quality video can hurt your professional image more than a simple resume mistake.
Checking Your Video Approach
Don't turn your resume into a long video where you just read what's already written. Most people treat the camera like a stage to show their "talking CV," reading out bullet points in front of a messy background. This is a bad way to approach things. When you make a recruiter spend several minutes listening to something they could have read in six seconds, you are showing them you don't respect their time or understand how business works efficiently.
For high-level jobs, time is the most valuable thing a company has. Every minute spent interviewing costs a lot of money in lost work from leaders. A good video is not just about showing personality; it’s about proving you can handle things. It acts as a quick check to see if you can talk well or handle a client before a director commits a lot of their schedule to a formal meeting.
If you mess this up, you aren't just missing out on a job—you are showing that you aren't mature enough professionally to protect a company’s resources.
Strategy Shift
The best 1% of job seekers never send a "video resume." Instead, they use a 60-second pitch focused on solving problems.
- This plan means focusing on what you can do for them now, not just a long list of who you are.
- By focusing on one big result you achieved, you change how people see you.
Using the video as a final closing tool, instead of something you send right at the start, helps you get past automatic screening systems and makes you look like a smart investment, not a risk.
The Three Steps to Your Video Pitch
Don't make a "talking biography"; make a pitch that shows what value you bring. The goal is to prove you know what problems the company has and have a clear way to fix one of them. By only talking about one major result instead of your whole work history, you show you respect the recruiter's time and make them feel less worried about hiring you.
Write a short script with three parts that fits on one sticky note. Part 1: Name a common issue in the industry. Part 2: Explain the exact thing you did in a past job to solve it. Part 3: State the result using numbers. Practice saying it until you can do it smoothly in less than 60 seconds without talking too fast.
"In [Your Industry], many teams struggle with [Specific Problem]. In my last role, I fixed our [System or Process], which led to a [Number]% jump in how well we worked. I want to use that same skill for solving problems in your open role."
Recruiters are scared of hiring someone who looks good on paper but can't speak clearly. A short, clear video proves to us right away that you are prepared and can talk well. This saves us the risk of wasting $2,000 of a manager's time on a full interview.
To get past company firewalls, you must make sure your video is easy to watch without needing to download anything or log in. Use a simple tool like Loom or your own basic webpage (like Notion or Carrd). This keeps the IT department happy and ensures the hiring manager can see your pitch with just one click.
Record your video where the lighting is good and the background is simple—no messy shelves or distracting posters. Upload it to a site that lets people watch it easily and set the privacy so "Anyone with the link can see it." Send a test link to someone else to check that it opens right away on both computers and phones without asking for a password.
"I made a quick 60-second video about how I handled [Specific Task] for my old team. You can watch it here [Insert Link]—it’s a fast link that doesn't require a download, just to save you time."
If a candidate sends a large video file or a link that needs a password, we usually skip it. Our company systems block suspicious files. If your "important" content causes a technical problem, it's no longer important.
Don't use the video when you first apply, which might bring up bias concerns. Instead, use it as a "Closing Tool" after a person has already seen your resume. Send it to "warm up" the hiring manager right before the first phone call.
When a recruiter emails you to set up an initial call or shows interest, reply with your availability, but add the video link as a "bonus" to give them more information before you speak. This makes you look like a top candidate who is already offering value.
"Thanks for getting in touch! I'm free Tuesday afternoon for our chat. In the meantime, I thought this 60-second video about how I handled [Project] might give you some useful background for our talk. Talk soon!"
Sending a video after the first resume look is smart. It avoids HR's automatic filters about bias and goes straight to the person who can hire you, making it much easier for me to suggest you as the top choice to the hiring manager.
How Our Tool Helps Your Video Strategy
To Master Step 1 Practice
Interview Practice ToolGet good at your 60-second "Value Pitch" by getting coaching from AI to make sure your script is short and impactful.
To Get Proof with Numbers
Story Keeper ToolReview past work to find key skills and hard numbers, building a bank of facts for your "Proof of Concept" section.
For Smart Sending (Step 3)
Networking ToolCreate personalized emails to send your video as a helpful extra to recruiters.
Common Questions About Video Applications
Is sending a video too much? I worry it will look like I'm trying too hard.
Stop worrying about looking "desperate" and start worrying about being ignored. In a stack of 500 identical papers, "trying hard" is how you get noticed. But you have to do it right. If you send a five-minute life story, you are annoying. If you send a 60-second clip showing how you’ll fix their specific problem, you are a helpful expert.
The goal is not to be an entertainer. The goal is to quickly prove you can explain a business solution better than anyone else. If a hiring manager thinks a 60-second solution is "too much," they probably aren't looking for someone who performs well; they just need a body to fill a seat. Move on to better opportunities.
What if the company blocks the link or HR throws it out due to 'bias' rules?
This is exactly why you should never use a video as your main application method. If you upload a video to an automated HR system, the system will probably reject it. You need to change your approach.
The Plan:
- Use your normal resume to get past the automatic software.
- Once you have a person’s name or an email to follow up with, send the video as a "High-Value Preview."
- Link to a simple, clean webpage or a professional video host (like Loom), instead of sending a file that looks suspicious.
If the company system blocks it, your paper resume is already in the running. You lose nothing. But if it does reach the hiring manager’s phone or computer, you’ve just jumped ahead of everyone else.
How can I make a 'Problem-Solver Pitch' if I don't have huge sales numbers or massive success stories?
You don't need success measured in millions to show you're useful. Every job is needed for one of two reasons: to help the company earn money or to remove a headache for a manager. If you don't have the "money" results, focus on fixing the "headache."
Changing Your Focus (From Your Past to Their Needs):
Instead of saying "I have five years of experience in project management," say:
"I noticed your team is growing quickly. At my last company, I created the tracking process that kept our weekly meetings from running late, saving leaders 10 hours every month. I can set up something similar for you."
Bosses don't care about your life story. They care about their own time. If you can show in 60 seconds that you save time, you will be hired right away.
Stop Begging for Attention, Start Proposing a Partnership.
You are not just a job applicant asking for a role; you are a valuable expert who can solve a specific business issue.
Falling back into the BAD WAY—reading your resume out loud—makes you look like a risk who wastes important company time and seems unprofessional.
To succeed at high levels, you must switch to the SMART WAY by showing what you can do for them first, instead of just talking about yourself.
Great leaders want business partners who speak clearly and professionally, not just people who follow orders.
Make a Business Pitch They Can't Say No To
