How To Make a Jazzy Application Video for any Creative Job

So, you've seen a job that you really want to apply to but- great, a video application. This is enough for some people to write-off applying for a job all together (and this is sometimes why companies choose to do it this way). I won't go into all the reasons why a video application gives an employer a better "feel" for the type of person you are, but it also highlights many qualities you may have like; presentation skills, confidence and whether you've done your research. It may seem like a lot of effort, but if you really want the job then you're just going to have to suck it up and get on with it.

As someone who has done a handful of video applications that have landed be a bunch of internships and jobs, here's my process of what I do to produce a successful and creative video application.

#1 ANALYSE THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Usually what I do to start off with is copy and paste the job description into a word document and highlight key words. These key words may be specific skills or responsibilities they're looking for in an employee. Job descriptions all start to sound very familiar once you've read a load of them, almost like they've been written by the same person. As soon as you figure out the most important key words, you can scrap all the waffle in between that's written around it and focus on how you can relate your previous experiences and transferable skills to those.

#2 RESEARCH THE COMPANY

It may be very tempting to just look at the company's wiki page and call it a day. Don't do that, please. There are loads of ways you can research a company that don't involve just googling their name. Googling is just the start of researching and then comes in stalking their social media pages, researching other companies they've worked with, looking up their heads of departments on LinkedIn and reading articles about what they're doing differently. One interview question that is really common is, "Why do you want to work for us". You can't exactly reply with "Oh well, I saw you had a job going and I need money to pay rent", of course not, I wouldn't expect anyone to. Researching a company will give you a few pointers to mention at the start or end of your video, explain why you want to work for them specifically.

#3 START WRITING WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY

Okay so, you know exactly what they're looking for and now you could name a few employees off the top of your head who work there (not creepy at all) from your extensive research. Now start writing as if you would a cover letter. However, something important to remember is, a cover letter in comparison to what you're going to say in a video application is going to flow differently. First, write down everything you want to say and then begin to order it. You should start it with something that isn't going to bore them as soon as they turn it on, you want them to watch your video and think "Finally! Someone who's engaging and has a good energy."

You should also keep in mind, a lot of video applications have time limits, usually around 2 to 5 minutes. Only write down what's really important and relevant, you may need to scrap a few things!

#4 DECIDE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO FILM IT

You don't need a fancy camera for a video application. The main things you want to make sure is that you can hear what you're saying. Most people have a phone with a decent camera, if you don't, look into asking a friend who could lend you one. Once you've chosen what device you're going to film on, you've got to figure out the style of your video. This can be influenced by a few factors; what's the company like? Are they really serious or could you have a bit of fun with the video? For example, if they are a social media company, filming it on your phone using Snapchat filters could be a good idea! Figure out a set up for your shoot and where you're going to film it. There's loads of other things to consider like; are you going to look directly at the camera or are you going to make it look like you're talking to someone who's in the room etc.

#5 PRACTICING AND FILMING

If you can, try to learn your script off-by-heart. This way, the camera won't have to keep cutting when you take a break to read the next paragraph and it'll look more professional and seamless. Once you've filmed your video a few times, this is where you'll most likely realise that you can do things differently to improve your video. You may want to try slowing down the speed of your voice or even making it a bit more upbeat. It's weird talking to a camera, especially if no ones there, so giving yourself enough time to practice really could make a difference in the outcome of your application.

#6 EDITING

I personally think that editing your video slightly shows that you've put a bit more effort into your application (only if its necessary). There will be a lot of people that will just film themselves, upload their video and then hit submit. The main goal when applying for a job is to be chosen, and to be chosen you gotta stand out. Editing doesn't only just make your video more eye-catching, but it can add information in for you, alongside what you're saying. You could add in software logos that you can use on the screen when talking about your computer skills and more. However, don't over do it with the editing, sometimes less is more.

NEED SOME CREATIVE VIDEO APPLICATION INSPO?

Here are some of my faves...

Good luck!