Did you know that you can apply for a job by creating a resume on TikTok? There are 3 steps: (1) search for jobs, (2) post your resume video, and (3) apply.

The world of resume writing and searching for a job has moved further into social spaces. Everyone knows about using LinkedIn to find positions, but now you can use TikTok. In 2021, TikTok launched a pilot resume program to help job seekers struggling to find employment have a new voice. 

The are a lot of big-name companies relying on this new method to find top talent, including Chipotle, Forever 21, the NBA, Nascar, Shopify, and TikTok themselves. The first round of applying for positions may be finished, but you can create your TikTok resume today so that it's ready when they announce the next round.

How to get started

Open TikTok and hit the search button. Use the hashtag, #TikTokResumes, to view other people's resume videos to get an idea of what to do. Then start recording. As you record, keep these general online safety concepts in mind:

  • Only use your first name. 

  • Don't give out personal contact information, including your email address and phone number.

  • Check your background to make sure nothing can give away your physical address.

Greenscreen is your friend

Not only will having a greenscreen behind you ensure that you have control over your background–avoiding the possibility of accidentally revealing something personal–but it also allows you some editing freedom. You can pop in different things to showcase your education and experience. 

The really great thing about creating a TikTok resume is that you do not have to be in a creative field. You can be an engineer and still be successful with a video resume. It all depends on what you insert into the background of your video. 

Feel free to insert photos of you at graduation if you recently finished your degree. Showcase screenshots of websites that you've worked on, social content you've created, images of you attending professionally relevant events, and photos of you at work doing what you do. 

Keep your audience engaged with these steps

If you've spent any amount of time watching TikTok videos, you know the ones that keep your attention are the ones where people are doing something. Those videos of someone sitting on the couch talking to the camera are boring. Don't be that person. 

When hiring managers and recruiters view your video, you want them to remember you. If you create an engaging video with great content, you'll stand out from the crowd. It all starts with what you say!

A sample TikTok resume script

Your TikTok resume video should be no longer than 30 seconds. It's your elevator speech. Review relevant job descriptions to ascertain which skills employers seek. Then compare those requirements with the talents you possess to build the content of your resume video. 

If you're new to the work world, here's an example of what you could say in your video:

"Hello, my name is [FIRST NAME ONLY]. I'm a recent graduate of [NAME OF COLLEGE] and have earned a Bachelor of Science degree in [NAME OF FIELD]. During my college career, I earned [AWARD] and served on [NOTABLE ORGANIZATION]. In the last 6 months, I was given the honor of working with [NAME OF COMPANY] as a marketing intern. Currently, I write content for [NAME OF COMPANY] and have been instrumental in increasing their social media following by 75%. I have a passion for bringing customers and companies together by thinking outside the box to deliver innovative ideas that reach people on a new level. I can't wait to work with you. Let's talk!"

The visuals in your video

Be sure you're dressed the way you would if you were going to an interview. You always want to put your best foot forward when presenting yourself to a new company. First impressions can't be redone. 

Don't forget your greenscreen. Use the background to highlight a list of your skills and examples of things you've already done to get your career off the ground. Time the images and popups so that they line up with what you're saying. Use the features available in TikTok's app to create textboxes, adjusting the color, size, and font so that it fits the style of your video. 

PRO TIP: If you're using a mobile device to record your video, keep it upright–vertical. When you turn the mobile device horizontally, the video ends up being shrunken down when it's viewed. TikTok's settings are designed to work best with vertical videos. You don't want your video resume to end up minimized to the middle of the screen with blank space on either side. You want it to fill up the viewer's screen.

Your call to action

At the end of your video be sure to mention what you want viewers to do. Assume that they like you or they wouldn't have bothered watching to the end. Use confidence to tell them that you look forward to talking with them and can't wait to connect. 

Post it and watch it explode

After you finish putting your TikTok resume together, watch it a couple of times to make sure you like it. Get a friend to watch it to make sure there's not a typo if you've used on-screen text and to verify the timing of images with speech. This is the equivalent of proofreading your paper resume. 

When you're satisfied that it is as perfect as you can get it, post it. Watch the settings as you're posting the resume on TikTok's platform, though. Make sure that you're setting it so that it can be viewed publicly so that it can be found by–and ultimately submitted to–employers. 

Video resumes may be the wave of the future. Some people think they may even replace cover letters. However, you still need to have a regular resume to wow hiring managers after they see your TikTok resume. 

Reach out to TopResume's team of professional resume writers to supplement your video resume. 

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