- Curtis Ying submitted his application to Adobe 12 times before finally securing a position as a user experience designer.
- He mentioned that using a video for his cover letter made him more noticeable compared to other candidates.
-
He offered his advice on
creating a video resume cover letter
.
This interview-style piece stems from a discussion with Curtis Ying, a 30-year-old user experience designer working at Adobe in California. It has been condensed and clarified here. Adobe didn’t reply when contacted by Business Insider for comments.
In January 2023, I got let go from my job.
product designer job
I had several months of severance pay along with some savings, so it didn’t seem as though the whole world was collapsing.
Instead of directly submitting applications to multiple employers, I chose to concentrate my efforts on securing a position at a specific firm.
Adobe
.
A few weeks prior to getting let go from my job, a buddy working at Adobe showed me around their offices in San Jose, California. After my cousin instructed me on using graphic design tools, I developed an interest in the field.
Adobe Illustrator
, and I had been regularly using the company’s products. Becoming an employee at Adobe turned into my ideal job. When I got laid off, securing a position at Adobe became my primary objective.
I realized that the most effective approach to differentiate myself was to create an unconventional element for my job application—a video cover letter. Over roughly four weeks, I dedicated all my applications efforts solely towards one opening—specifically a position at Adobe which I did not secure—while simultaneously working on producing this video.
Once I completed the video in February, I closely monitored Adobe’s job listings. During those six months, I submitted applications for 10 positions at Adobe—some of which were likely beyond my qualifications—and got turned down each time. However, in December 2023, when I applied to my 12th Adobe role—a user experience design position—I secured an interview. Following the entire process, I accepted a full-time contract offer with a compensation package over six figures. Thus, just 13 months post-layoff, I achieved my objective.
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Video cover letters can make your application more personable.
I initially got interested in video résumés when I watched a YouTube clip where someone performed a song explaining their desire to join a specific firm. The individual secured the position, and this creative approach really stuck with me. Inspired by this, I resolved to make my very own video résumé as part of my application package for Adobe.
In the video, which lasted around one and a half minutes, I discussed how I became fascinated with graphic and user experience design. This included talking about my educational background, previous job experiences, the design tools and skills I was proficient in, some interesting personal tidbits, and what drew me to join Adobe. Despite not having access to a professional microphone, I filmed myself utilizing a Canon DSLR camera placed on a tripod. The editing process for this clip was done using Adobe Premiere Pro.
To incorporate my video cover letter into my application, I employed two distinct approaches. Initially, I posted the video to YouTube as an unlisted clip and included a hyperlink at the beginning of my resume labeled “view my video cover letter.” Additionally, I inserted a screenshot from the video within a PDF named “my_video_cover_letter.pdf”, placed the identical link beneath it, and submitted this file along with my application materials.
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.
Alongside crafting a personalized video cover letter, I also focused on connecting with Adobe staff members. In June 2023, I shared my Adobe-themed video cover letter on LinkedIn. Though uncertain about its reception, this turned out to be an excellent choice since it expanded my professional ties within Adobe. Despite facing multiple rejections, knowing that I had established numerous contacts inside the company made me feel like securing employment there might actually be simpler compared to elsewhere, which continued to inspire me.
I believe my video cover letter played a significant role in securing a position at Adobe. During the interview, the hiring manager mentioned that it provided insight into my character and made me more memorable compared to other candidates. Additionally, sharing the video on LinkedIn resulted in new connections which likely strengthened my application.
I believe a video cover letter doesn’t necessarily need to be as professionally made as mine to benefit job applicants. It doesn’t require an attractive backdrop or ideal illumination, but if you manage to keep it brief and talk casually, I think it could still be effective.
I strongly support using video cover letters because they add a personal touch that is often missing from standard applications consisting only of text-based resumes and cover letters. In today’s competitive job markets where positions may attract thousands of candidates, incorporating a video cover letter could make your application more noticeable. There really aren’t any drawbacks as far as I’m concerned.
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