I landed my dream job at Adobe after applying to the company 12 times. A video cover letter helped me stand out.

Curtis Ying said making a video cover letter helped him land his "dream job" at Adobe.Curtis YingCurtis Ying applied to Adobe 12 times before landing a user experience designer role.He said a video cover letter helped him stand out among other applicants.He shared his tips for making a video cover letter.This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Curtis Ying, a 30-year-old user experience designer at Adobe who lives in California. The following has been edited for length and clarity. Adobe did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.In January 2023, I was laid off from my product designer job. I had a few months of severance and some savings, so it didn't feel like the world was crashing down.Rather than immediately applying to various employers, I decided to focus on landing a job at one company in particular: Adobe.About a month before I was laid off, my friend who works at Adobe gave me a tour of the company's headquarters in San Jose, California. I fell in love with graphic design after my cousin taught me how to use Adobe Illustrator, and I was already using the company's products on a regular basis. Working at Adobe became a dream job of mine. After I was laid off, landing a job at Adobe became my top priority.I figured the best way to make this happen was to do something unique in my application that would help me stand out: creating a video cover letter. For about a month, I only applied to one position — a role at Adobe that I didn't get — while I worked on the video.After finishing the video in February, I kept a close eye on Adobe's job postings. Over a six-month period, I applied to 10 Adobe jobs — including some I was probably underqualified for — and was rejected from all of them. Then, in December 2023, I applied for my 12th Adobe role of the year — a user experience designer position — and landed an interview. After going through the process, I accepted an offer for a full-time contract role with a six-figure salary. Thirteen months after my layoff, I'd accomplished my goal.Have you landed a new job in the last few years and are open to sharing your story? Please fill out this quick Google Form.Video cover letters can "humanize your application"I first became intrigued by video cover letters after seeing a YouTube video in which someone sang about why they wanted to work at a particular company. They ended up getting the job, and the video left a strong impression on me. I decided to create my own video cover letter to include with my Adobe applications.In the video, which ran about a minute and a half, I talked about how I got interested in graphic and UX design, my education and work experience, the design tools and techniques I knew well, a few fun facts about myself, and why I wanted to work at Adobe. While I didn't have a professional microphone, I recorded myself using a Canon DSLR camera set up on a tripod. I edited the footage with Adobe Premiere Pro.I used two different methods to include my video cover letter in my application. First, I uploaded the video to YouTube as an unlisted video and hyperlinked it at the top of my résumé with the text "watch my video cover letter." I also embedded a snapshot of the video in a PDF titled "video cover letter," added the same hyperlink, and attached that document as well.Some people told me not to focus exclusively on Adobe — that I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket. But I was hesitant to change my approach. Applying to other jobs felt a little like admitting that landing a job at Adobe might not be possible.Several months into my job search, I started applying to some companies other than Adobe using a second video cover letter I made that was more generic. But Adobe remained my target employer.In addition to creating a customized video cover letter, I pursued a second strategy: networking with Adobe employees. In June 2023, I posted my Adobe video cover letter on LinkedIn. I wasn't sure how it would be received, but it proved to be a good decision, as it helped me grow my Adobe network. Even as the rejections came in, I felt I'd built so many connections at Adobe that it was probably easier to land a job there than anywhere else — and that kept me motivated.I think my video cover letter definitely helped me land a job at Adobe. The hiring manager I interviewed with told me it gave them a sense of my personality and helped me stand out among other applicants. Posting the video on LinkedIn also led to some connections that I believe boosted my application.I don't think a video cover letter has to be as highly produced as mine to be helpful for job seekers. It doesn't have to have a beautiful background or the perfect lighting, but if you can be concise and speak naturally, I think it can work.One of the reasons I highly advocate for video cover letters is that they humanize your application, which is typically just lines of text in a résumé and cover letter. When you're competing with sometimes thousands of applicants in a challenging job market, I think having a video cover letter can help you stand out. I see absolutely no downsides to it.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

People earning less than £80,000 urged to claim HMRC benefit worth £3,148

Express

Britain's downsizing hotspots revealed: Forget Eastbourne and Devon, these are the booming locations where buyers are cashing in on smaller homes, as revealed by property experts

about 2 hours ago

Dailymail

The terrifying pension trap that could cost you £100,000 as savings experts say take these steps to avoid it

about 2 hours ago

insider

When I couldn't help my son with his advanced math, I felt like a failure. Hiring a tutor taught me to put his needs above my ego.

about 2 hours ago

insider

I made the dessert Meghan Markle named after her daughter. It's perfect for Mother's Day.

about 2 hours ago

insider

Ukraine said it downed fighter jets with drone boats for the 'first time in history,' destroying two $50 million Russian fighters

about 2 hours ago

insider

After getting laid off, I used my free time to write my first novel. It helped me figure out what I wanted from my next job.

about 2 hours ago

insider

Elon Musk can now add 'city founder' to his résumé after SpaceX employees vote to create Starbase, Texas

about 2 hours ago

insider

Navigating Big Tech's new era

about 2 hours ago

insider

A software engineer shares the résumé that got him to the final rounds at Google, Meta, Amazon, and Netflix — and hired at a Magnificent 7 company

about 2 hours ago

Here's how tariffs are hitting consumer brands from Coca-Cola to Amazon

insider

Letitia James is hunting for insider trading in Trump's inner circle. Ex-prosecutors call her tariff inquiry unprecedented.

about 4 hours ago

I gave my number to a postman I had a crush on. Just 6 months after our first date, he proposed.

insider

A boomer couldn't retire on $1,428 a month in Social Security, so she moved to France for cheaper rent and a vibrant social life: 'Everything about living here is just better'

about 5 hours ago

insider

Kim Jong Un is opening a tourism mega-resort in North Korea. It's unclear how he'll fill its thousands of rooms.

about 5 hours ago

insider

Millions of student-loan borrowers are about to be thrown into collections. Some say they're already 'barely scraping by.'

about 5 hours ago

See the ship-killing missile that US Marines deployed to a hot spot near Taiwan

insider

Comments

Business News

People earning less than £80,000 urged to claim HMRC benefit worth £3,148

HMRC issues warning to people with a hidden bank account that they could be missing out on up to £2,200

Holiday warning for anyone with a summer trip booked abroad to make crucial check NOW – or risk being caught out

How to buy stolen goods including Rolex watches and designer handbags and trainers from £35 – and it’s totally legal

Why Inter Need Nicolò Barella’s Best To Beat Barcelona In UCL Clash

'I bought my mum this gorgeous Dune bag and she takes it to work daily–it fits everything'

UK potholes mapped: Search your postcode to see how bad roads are near you

Britain's downsizing hotspots revealed: Forget Eastbourne and Devon, these are the booming locations where buyers are cashing in on smaller homes, as revealed by property experts

The terrifying pension trap that could cost you £100,000 as savings experts say take these steps to avoid it

When I couldn't help my son with his advanced math, I felt like a failure. Hiring a tutor taught me to put his needs above my ego.

I made the dessert Meghan Markle named after her daughter. It's perfect for Mother's Day.

Ukraine said it downed fighter jets with drone boats for the 'first time in history,' destroying two $50 million Russian fighters

After getting laid off, I used my free time to write my first novel. It helped me figure out what I wanted from my next job.

Elon Musk can now add 'city founder' to his résumé after SpaceX employees vote to create Starbase, Texas

Navigating Big Tech's new era

A software engineer shares the résumé that got him to the final rounds at Google, Meta, Amazon, and Netflix &mdash; and hired at a Magnificent 7 company

Here's how tariffs are hitting consumer brands from Coca-Cola to Amazon

Rachel Reeves told to restore Winter Fuel Payment for EVERY pensioner

My collection of Jellycats is worth £2,000 – exact detail helped me spot rare one I bought for £20 that’s now worth £200

Energy firm to give households two hours of free electricity every week from tomorrow

UFC Veteran Retires In The Octagon After Vicious TKO Loss

Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas: What Time Does The Fight Card Start?

Stronger PAP Mandate Reaffirms Singapore’s Status As Global Wealth Hub

Home Bargains' 'flattering' £15 dress looks 'just like' £295 designer version

'I used the Silk'n LED mask with tightening EMS for 6 weeks - my redness and texture vanished'

7 easy to style and comfy to wear co-ords from high street brands like Reserved and Joules

Primark's 'gorgeous' £12 bags you can 'mix and match'

Tenants are being charged eviction fees even if they don't get evicted

Why our most basic assumptions about retirement may not add up

Trump's war on America's office elites

I'm no longer writing thank-you notes, and I'm not making my kids do it, either

Warren Buffett's biographer says he's 'literally not replaceable' as Berkshire Hathaway enters a new era

The 1 filler this cosmetic surgeon is begging you not to get

Trump suggested kids have too many dolls. He might be right, but we get a lot more than toys from China.

Employers are tapping this group of 'highly skilled' but underemployed people

Letitia James is hunting for insider trading in Trump's inner circle. Ex-prosecutors call her tariff inquiry unprecedented.

I gave my number to a postman I had a crush on. Just 6 months after our first date, he proposed.

Would the Housing Crisis Ease if Boomers Rented Out Their Empty Rooms?

My Boss Wants to Sleep on My Couch Every Week

Who Is Gregory Abel, Warren Buffett’s Successor?

Bank of England set to cut interest rates as US tariff impact in focus

Thai Billionaire Gets 24-Year Jail Term Over Alleged Illegal Golf Land Development

UFC 315 Full Fight Card: Muhammad Vs. Della Maddalena Headlines PPV

Big Bets On Which Of These Pathways Will Push Today’s AI To Become Prized AGI

Canelo Alvarez Vs. Terence Crawford: Date, Time And Location Confirmed

Bank of England set to cut interest rates as US tariff impact in focus

Millie Mackintosh praises travel neck pillow as the ‘first one that doesn’t hurt my neck’

WARREN SHUTE: 'Key savings rule has helped me put away money every month'

Tesco launches 'ultimate' new ready meal but shoppers have one complaint

Shoppers praise Next's £26 linen trousers that don't crease as 'lovely' and 'lightweight'

TONY HETHERINGTON: I lost £500,000 to a scam, but the solicitors who received the cash remain quiet