Gen Z is turning to social media to stand out from the competition.
Gone are the days when a traditional resume and cover letter were the standards of applying for jobs; now, creativity, digital fluency, and personality take center stage—often showcased through video.
Job seekers are uploading video resumes to TikTok and using hashtags.
Jackie Vargas recently uploaded a TikTok video aimed at catching the attention of her potential employer.
The result? A staggering 55,000 views, and a chance for her personality to shine brighter than any bullet point on a resume, the New York Post reports.
But Vargas is hardly alone. Colleen Yu, known on TikTok as @filmwcolleen, put a creative spin on her application to a media company called Jubilee.
In her viral TikTok, which garnered over 346,000 views, Yu introduced herself: "Hi Jubilee, this is my application for your Digital Media Producer role."
The response was overwhelming—one commenter shared, "I sent this to my recruiter friend at Jubilee. I hope it works out!"
In a follow-up video, Yu said she was invited to an interview.
Nicole Vawter applied for an internship at Barstool Sports with a video resume that went viral, amassing over 657,000 views and receiving comments like "hired ASAP" from enthusiastic viewers.
@nicmarievee I’m @Barstool Sports next Content Intern of course I am going to create social media content for my application #barstoolsports #daveportnoy @Dave Portnoy
♬ Walking Around - Instrumental Version - Eldar Kedem
"The employment industry has different values now than it did 10 years ago," says Guy Thornton, founder of Practice Aptitude Tests. "Today, creative skills and digital fluency are in high demand, and a well-crafted TikTok job application can showcase these qualities perfectly."
Eva Chan, a career expert at Resume Genius, adds that "social media doesn't just have to be for passive scrolling—it's a critical tool for proactive job seekers. If you're not incorporating it in your job search, you're leaving opportunities on the table."
Platforms like LinkedIn have long helped professionals create online profiles, and with TikTok's growing popularity, it's quickly becoming another valuable tool for job hunting, Thornton points out.
He explains that submitting a social media clip can make applicants seem more confident, tech-savvy, and on-trend.
Social media is playing an increasingly important role in the job search process. 86% of job seekers use platforms like TikTok to find jobs, using hashtags like #hiringnow and #jobopportunity. Some even upload their resumes with hashtags like #tiktokresume to stand out, Fast Company reports.
However, while creativity is key, Thornton cautions applicants not to get too carried away with humor or gimmicks.
"Keep your video fast-paced, ensuring that your tone of voice is clear and concise, Thornton told the Post.
