Video is the very best instrument for job hunters.
Arms down.
It’s the open secret to success!
It’s the longer term, and the longer term is right here. (It’s simply not broadly distributed but).
If you wish to get a leg up and 10x your job hunt outcomes, then stick with me for the whys and hows of sending video as a job hunter.
Desk of contents
My story: How I landed an 80% interview price with 0 gross sales expertise
It was early 2020. I used to be making a profession change from the general public sector to the non-public sector, and began with gross sales roles as an entry level to make that profession relaunch.
I had no official gross sales or enterprise expertise.
In February 2020, I emailed my first video pitch straight to the top of gross sales at a tech startup.
Inside three hours I had a reply, and had an interview arrange inside a day.
In February 2020, I emailed my first video pitch straight to the top of gross sales at a tech startup. Inside three hours I had a reply, and had an interview arrange inside a day.
…then, in fact, in March 2020 the entire world turned the wrong way up (and hiring freezes grew to become regular). However I didn’t let that cease me. I saved video pitching.
Inside a matter of weeks, I landed 8 interviews out of 10 pitches.
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There was one BDR position I used to be particularly enthusiastic about — however it requested for somebody with 3 years of gross sales expertise. And it had 1,400 candidates.
(Keep in mind: How a lot gross sales expertise did I’ve? Proper. Zero.)
I lower via the noise. After I emailed my video pitch, the recruiter stated:
“I needed to right away reply to you and allow you to know that that is BY FAR the very best and coolest software I’ve ever seen in over 20 years of reviewing functions. You completely blew me away and made my morning.”
Don’t misinterpret this as me attempting to toot my horn. I’m merely in search of to convey that utilizing video as a job hunter has really unimaginable energy.
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Burn your resume! Ship a video as an alternative
Ask your self, why are you sending a resume? Possibly you assume it’s “required.” Or, perhaps you by no means thought of it a lot, and simply assumed that that’s what you do.
That’s okay! Don’t beat your self up if you happen to haven’t questioned this premise.
But when you consider it, the resume (and canopy letter) is like going as much as somebody you wish to date, and saying, “Listed here are 10 the explanation why I’m dateable.”
No one actually is turned on by that. 😉
So as an alternative of the resume, strive to not deal with your self and your previous. As a job hunter, it’s good to stand out and create worth for the corporate.
A world-class method to try this is with video.
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Suppose from the hiring supervisor’s perspective. Sarah the hiring supervisor is waking up every morning, opening her electronic mail inbox, and taking a look at a bunch of black-and-white, bulleted PDF resumes.
How might you make her day?
Attempt sending her a 1-minute video, personalised for her and her firm, sharing how excited you’re about their mission.
The connection is prompt. You construct a human connection. You stand out, and you’ll sign your delicate abilities and mindsets of initiative, boldness, creativity, enthusiasm, and willingness to go above and past.
Fairly highly effective first impression, yeah? Particularly if you would like a gross sales position.
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“I attempted ‘spray and pray’ for two months — 10 apps per week. Began sending pitches and out of seven pitches, I received 4 interviews and one job provide. Enormous distinction.”
— Maxine, now Knowledge Analyst at Aegis Well being Providers
Video pitches vs. resumes: By the numbers
Quick ahead… I’ve now labored with 1000’s of job hunters to show them to face out on the job hunt, (through Profession Hackers). Our information reveals {that a} video pitch will see on common:
- 5 days to first interview
- 14 days to a job provide
- 80% response price
- 35% interview price
Evaluate this to a resume, and its lower than 1% response price…which strategy will you select?
It’s an actual no-brainer! However the video itself isn’t a silver bullet.
In your video, you wish to embody a mindset of entrepreneurial, artistic vitality. You wish to be prepared to place your self on the market, to be daring, to be completely different, to not care about “the principles,” and to let go of ready for permission.
You’re a salesman. You bought this!
Methods to make a video pitch as a job hunter in 6 steps
I’ve received some tips to dial in a stable video pitch. However what’s secret’s that an imperfect video is healthier than no video.
An imperfect video is healthier than no video.
The bar is low, people. Should you’re studying this in 2023, you continue to have first-mover benefit. Don’t fear about perfection!
The truth is, I dare you to ship a “mediocre” video. You’ll nonetheless most likely do 10X higher than some other strategy you’re taking as a job hunter.
Need to do greater than mediocre? Comply with these 6 easy steps:
- Use a video instrument like YouTube or Loom. The instrument issues method lower than the substance of your pitch. These instruments are good as a result of the thumbnail will present a preview if you happen to had been to ship in a LinkedIn DM.
- Keep away from scripting if you happen to can. Simply checklist just a few bullet factors in your head for what you wish to say, then shoot the video and communicate naturally. What’s secret’s to border the pitch from their perspective. What are you able to do for THEM?
- Begin by smiling! This helps you chill out and be genuine. Should you simply take one tip from this submit, it’s to smile if you make a video pitch. 🙂
- After you smile, inform the digital camera why you like that firm. Show you probably did your analysis. Be real. This may be easy. Let’s say you’re pitching Apple. Only a “Hey Apple, I like your mission to deliver world-class consumer expertise to your clients” will likely be of worth. Then perhaps share why that’s personally thrilling to you, to seal a private reference to them, and construct a bridge.
- Share 1-2 tidbits about your accomplishments, your story, or your abilities and the way they relate to the position you’re going for. It’s key right here to be your self and to attach the dots for them, e.g.,“As a gross sales supervisor at Firm X, I lead our SDR crew to extend income 30% in 6 months, by specializing in constructing supportive 1-1 relationships. I’d like to do the identical for you at firm Y.” And even inform a narrative about your private achievements and delicate abilities, e.g.,“I ran a marathon by exhibiting up and coaching day-after-day for 4 months, constructing that consistency muscle. I’ll deliver the identical mentality and drive as a BDR.”
(Significantly, operating a marathon alerts extra about you than any school diploma.)
- Maintain it at about 60 seconds. You don’t must say every little thing, simply get them to be taught extra!
Study extra suggestions in this submit, this webinar, and the movies under:
“For months I used to be struggling to suit my non-traditional experiences right into a resume and it merely didn’t work. With a video pitch, I used to be in a position to go from pitch to interview to supply inside 24 hours. It felt like magic.”
— George Garcia, now Technique Affiliate at Evening Labs
Deal with your job hunt like a gross sales marketing campaign with a cadence
If you cease to consider it, you notice {that a} job hunt is basically simply you promoting a $75K+ product…. you!
So show your gross sales abilities from the start with the way you showcase your self.
Which means it’s good to use electronic mail. E mail your video on to the hiring supervisor, and observe up as wanted, like all efficient salesperson!
Decide a human who will possible be your supervisor — like a gross sales supervisor or the VP of gross sales. To do that, you should utilize LinkedIn to search out the “Individuals” web page on an organization’s profile.
Then use a instrument like Hunter.io to search out their electronic mail tackle.
Then, ship your pitch, and observe up as wanted.
Which means just a little cadence, proper? e.g.
- Day 1: E mail the pitch
- Day 3: Nudge follow-up
- Day 6: Ship in LinkedIn DM
- Day 7: Ship to a brand new resolution maker
- Day 9: E mail follow-up
Maintain following up till you get a transparent “sure” or “no.” response. Be persistent — like, probably the most persistent individual on the planet — so you’ll be able to present your curiosity and willingness to go above and past. As Derek Sivers stated, “Persistence is well mannered.”
And don’t trouble with a resume. I like to recommend you sign your boldness by skipping it altogether!
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If you do that, you’re implying “I do know what issues most is the worth I can create for you.” And also you sign that you simply’re not ready round for instructions, or anybody’s permission to get began.
Promote your self as a job hunter. Ship a video and pitch your companies. Comply with up and present your persistence. Maintain knocking on the door till you get a transparent “sure” or “no.” However if you happen to present your abilities and starvation, you’ll possible no less than get an interview. ; )
Associated: David’s story doubling his wage with a video pitch
Bonus: Create a venture
aka, how Gregory broke into gross sales with no school diploma
If you wish to stand out as a job hunter, ship a video.
However if you happen to REALLY wish to stand out, then simply begin doing the job earlier than you’ve gotten the job — precept #6 within the Profession Hackers Manifesto.
Need an organization to salivate over you?
Then begin working for them, with out ready for permission.
Examples of this:
It’s also possible to create worth in a non-sales-specific method, which is what Gregory Williamson did when he made a chatbot for an organization to seal the take care of an organization and break into gross sales with no expertise.
That is how he did it:
“Earlier than the interview, I went and checked out their web site, checked out methods I might enhance their platform (from a gross sales perspective primarily). And I seen that they didn’t have a chatbot on their web site.
They’d Intercom, however they simply had just a little field so that you can message them and nothing extra. So for after-work hours and on the weekends, you couldn’t have interaction with people who had been visiting the web site.
So I believed, “Let me construct out a chatbot for them.” I went and began a free trial of Intercom and created a complete Q&A department, constructed out a script for them, after which I put all of it into my Intercom account.”
Gregory embodied what I name the “I Went Forward” mindset. That is if you simply begin creating worth above-and-beyond with out ready for instructions.
You simply begin fixing issues.
You say, “I went forward and wrote a brand new weblog submit for you,” or “I went forward and made a brand new brand for you,” or “I went forward and made a brand new video for you.”
(As a job hunter you may all the time ship a second observe up video pitch after the interview, to maintain standing out from different candidates. On this case, share what you realized within the interview and the way you’re doubly fired as much as be part of the crew!)
Suppose from the corporate’s perspective, and the way they are going to be wowed by this worth creation mindset!
It cannot solely land you a brand new job, but in addition make you indispensable.
You possibly can learn Gregory’s full story right here.
To succeed with a video as job hunter, hone your mindset
On the finish of the day, a artistic, daring, and chronic mindset is what it’s good to stand out. Video is the highest instrument to try this, sure. However you’re promoting YOU. What vitality will you deliver if you activate the digital camera, humanize your self, and pitch your self?
All of it boils right down to what occurs between the ears.
You wish to embody the mindset of “I can create a lot worth, I don’t want a resume.”
Relatively than wait round for alternatives to fall your method, you say “I’m going to create what I need.”
And above all, it’s good to let go of the three P’s:
1) Permission mindset
Proper now it’s uncommon that any firm will ask you to ship a video. However it’s good to let go of asking for permission to take action. You simply realized rising up at school, if you realized to lift your hand to go to the lavatory! You possibly can shed that now! Simply create worth.
2) Perfectionism mindset
Chances are you’ll wish to ensure your video is polished and excellent earlier than sending it. Let that go. Adequate is sweet sufficient.
3) Preparation mindset
And you might wait to ship and ship your video since you wish to be certain that every little thing is excellent along with your plan, and that you’re totally ready. Let go of that too. Simply maintain a bias for motion.
You bought this.