Many companies find the traditional, written cover letter to be outdated. But instead of getting rid of it entirely, some of them have chosen to give it a digital upgrade. To help you keep up with the times, we’ll show you what to include in your video cover letter.
What to Include in Your Video Cover Letter
Struggling to figure out what to include in your video cover letter? We’ve got you COVERed! If you’re camera-shy, write a script and study it, but don’t sound too rehearsed when speaking. Here are a few more pointers to help you ace your job application:
Introduction
In this section, you have to introduce yourself and say which position you are applying for. This is your first impression, so make sure to speak clearly and with confidence. For example, you could say “Hi, my name is Jenna and I’m applying for the marketing manager post”.
How you Found out About the Post
Businesses like knowing how their job applications find their target market. It’s considered valuable feedback, so you should always mention it as a nice touch. So tell them if you saw it on LinkedIn, Indeed, or if you know someone at the company who encouraged you to apply.
Why You’re Interested
This section is all about the job, not the company. Here you can talk about how the job you applied for is suited to or will help you reach your career goals. Recruiters want to know that you have the right skills and are aware of the duties you’ll have to perform.
Your Qualifications and Skills
Because your video has to be short, you can detail your skills and qualifications in the form of a personal statement. Make sure to be as specific as possible. Instead of saying “I have experience in retail”, say “I have four years of experience in retail management”.
What you Bring to the Company
Employers want to know what about their company makes you want to work for them. This is an opportunity to show that you’ve done research on the organisation and its values. A great way to start off would be to say: “I am excited to…” or “I look forward to…”.
Consider Adding Personal Touches
A video cover letter is an opportunity to show off your personality. In fact, many recruiters use the “would I want to sit next to them on an eight-hour flight?” tactic as a deciding factor. So be sure to present your true self in a way that gives you a competitive edge.
Conclusion
This part is very important because it’s the last thing they’ll remember about you. So you should make it count. The best way is to include a call to action such as: “I look forward to meeting you for an interview”. This shows that you really want the job and are confident in your abilities.
A few Tips
Your video cover letter should be engaging. Think of it as a movie trailer. You want to get people interested enough to invite you for an interview and hear more about you. Keep in mind the following points:
- Practice as many times as possible
- Make it short and sweet – no more than a minute or two
- Don’t just directly read your CV
- Make two versions – a generic one for social media, and one for the company
- Dress professionally – avoid colours that clash with your background
- Edit your videos with easy-to-use software such as Kapwing or Inshot
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