TikTok Video Resumes: Do 30-Second Job Pitches Really Work?
so i was scrolling through tiktok last night around bedtime with a cup of chai next to me and suddenly there appears this random video of a girl basically offering herself for a marketing job within 30 seconds. like, no cover letter, no pdf resume, just a short video with text captions and some up beat music. i kinda chuckled first, you know, because i still think of job hunting like filling form after form and waiting for ages. but i couldn’t help wondering more and more. could it actually work?
i remember when my friend sara tried something sort of like that last year. she is a graphic designer and hates writing those never-ending proper cvs. she uploaded a very concise reel (yes not even tiktok but instagram) of her portfolio and a little introduction. a startup dm’ed her within a week. she got the project. it wasn’t really a “video resume” but pretty close. maybe we’re headed there.
i went around and questioned some people and here’s what i’ve been able to conclude:
They actually track
it sounds insane but there are businesses willing to try it. one of my friends is working at an ad firm in karachi and he told me they actually go on tiktok when they’re scouting for the creative sort. they notice the manner one communicates on cam, the way the video is edited, the vibe you project essentially. he claimed it’s like previewing the character of a potential employee before the interview. ofcourse they still want you to present a regular resume afterwards but the video gets you into the door faster.
and just imagine, he said for social jobs they actually like it better. it would make sense, wouldn’t it? if you’re interviewing for managing the tiktok for a company, being able to show you can make an engaging video is half the battle.
mixed outcomes in more severe disciplines
meanwhile, my cousin tried it for a finance analyst role. yes, didn’t work out. he made this cool 45-second video cv, talked about his degree and project experience. the recruiter liked it but wanted a full traditional cv anyway and pretty much said video cv’s aren’t the done thing there. i guess the bank and big corporates stick with tradition.
so it pays more if you’re marketing, design, media, maybe tech. not very good if you are targeting law firms or investment banks. pretty self-evident but worth saying.
showing ability early
what i find cool is that you can demo it on the spot. like one of my friend-of-a-friend guys (whose name i don’t remember) is a video editor. he made a tiktok where he introduced himself and edited the video at the same time. thumbs up. the recruiter didn’t only see his face but his actual skill. same for copywriters who insert on-screen text with their own copy or programmers who screen record a one-liner hack. you can’t do that on a bare pdf.
and the face and voice are recalled by humans. a bare sheet of paper doesn’t quite make the same impact.
things to keep in mind
seriously just post and done. you want it short, i mean under one minute, good sound, decent light. doesn’t need hollywood quality but not one wobbly dark video either. and yeah speak like you yourself. too professional can sound dishonest.
too, privacy information. remember tiktok is public unless you mark it otherwise. some recruiters said they like it when the applicants send an unlisted video or private link because only they can view it. that feels more professional.
one more thing, don’t get rid of the classic resume quite yet. almost all i talked to said that they still desire the fundamental facts recorded somewhere. the video is your hook, the resume contains the facts.
my little test
tbh i messed this up at first. i tried writing one for the purpose of entertainment, for a remote writing gig. i went on too long and didn’t remember the other half of the information i needed to cover. also recorded it at midnight when i wasn’t fully awake. not great. but i sent it anyway and the editor got back saying they liked the pitch but yeah just submit a regular cv. anyway, it got a response faster than my usual cold emails, which was really great.
so yes that’s what i’ve taken away. if you’re artistic, why not. create a small intro video, show what you can do, be you. if you’re the more classical employment type, maybe use it as an add-on, not the main thing. get your phone, decent lighting, ideally a cup of tea for courage. press record. you might astound yourself.
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