The Video Resume 2.0: How I Accidentally Cracked the Job Search Code in Today's AI Era
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Instead of crying into my keyboard, I accidentally discovered something weird: turns out if you feed your resume to Google's AI, it turns your career into what sounds like two overexcited podcast hosts geeking out about your life. It was freakily engaging. So I made a video around it.
I've shared my own AI-powered video resume halfway down the page. Take a look - it's a 4-minute window into my journey that sparked quite a few interesting conversations. But more importantly, let me show you how it came to be, and how you can make your own.
500 Applications Deep
Look, we need to talk about job hunting in 2025.
Picture this: I'm starting my job search, sipping coffee, when a recruiter friend drops this bomb - "Yeah, we got 500+ applications for our last design role. In two days."
I nearly spit out my coffee. 500?!
That's when it hit me: sending out traditional resumes in today's market is like trying to shout your life story in a packed stadium. While wearing a blindfold. And everyone else is shouting too. And they're all doing interpretive dance. (Okay, maybe not that last part, but you get how chaotic it feels.)
The Breakthrough
I was playing around with Google's NotebookLM one night, probably procrastinating on updating my LinkedIn profile for the 47th time. I stumbled onto its beta audio AI feature, which turns your text into what sounds like two podcast hosts having a chat about your career.
And then it happened. I heard these AI voices discussing my design journey with such natural emotion and enthusiasm that it stopped me in my tracks. They weren't just reciting facts - they were telling my story with genuine excitement, like two friends geeking out over someone's cool career path. It was freakily effective. Like, "wait, did I just get hyped about my own resume?" effective.
That's when the lightbulb went off. If these AI-generated voices could make my career story sound this engaging, what if I built something visual around it? What if we could turn our professional journeys into something actually watchable? Like, Netflix-worthy watchable? (Okay, maybe more like good-YouTube-content watchable, but you get the idea.) If you haven't watched my video below yet, that's exactly what I was going for - something that would make people want to lean in and learn more.
So I experimented. I combined this surprisingly emotional AI storytelling with video editing in Adobe Express (yes, I'm biased - I led design there, but trust me, it's genuinely great for this), and created something that's part TED Talk, part portfolio, and part "this is why you should hire me" manifesto.
I'll be honest - at first, I worried it might come across as too promotional or over-the-top. You know that feeling when you're not sure if you're being innovative or just... extra? Yeah, that.
But I decided to test the waters and shared it with my LinkedIn network and a few recruiters. The response? Let's just say I wasn't expecting what happened next.
One recruiter's message particularly stuck with me: "WOW! I actually love that as a recruiter, especially for someone in design. I bet that gets some interest from folks!"
That's when I knew I might be onto something. It wasn't just another gimmicky job search tactic - it was actually helping recruiters and hiring managers get a better sense of who I am and what I bring to the table. (Plus, let's be real, anything that makes a recruiter use all caps in their response is probably worth paying attention to.)
Like any good designer, I knew the first version wouldn't be the final version. So I started sharing drafts with friends, and their feedback was gold.
"Love the concept, but you need visuals that actually support what you're saying," said one friend. (Fair point. Watching someone talk for 4 minutes straight, even with a killer AI-generated voice, isn't exactly riveting television.)
"Can you get it under 3 minutes?" asked another. Reader, I tried. I really did. Mine's still 4 minutes, but hey, some stories need a little extra time to tell. Though if you can hit that 3-minute sweet spot, you're probably a better editor than I am.
The game-changer came when someone suggested adding a clear call to action at the end. "Make it stupid-easy for them to contact you," they said. Because what's the point of creating this mini-documentary of your career if people don't know what to do next?
Each round of feedback made it better, and that's when another truth hit me: this format isn't just about showing your work, it's about showing how you work. Taking feedback, iterating, improving - you're literally demonstrating your design process while creating your job search materials. Meta, right?
How to Make Your Own
1. Content Prep (The Easy Part)
Just grab your resume and LinkedIn profile
Drop them into NotebookLM
Let the AI work its magic structuring your story
2. AI-Assisted Narration
Hit that beta audio feature in NotebookLM
Listen to your career story told by what sounds like enthusiastic podcast hosts
Trim or adjust any parts that don't feel quite right
Pro tip: Don't overthink it - the natural conversation style is what makes it work
3. Visual Enhancement
Choose your video editor (I used Adobe Express because, well, I helped build it)
Quick to learn, tons of stock video
Professional Adobe fonts ready to go
Smooth transitions built in
(Yes, I'm biased, but Canva or CapCut work great too!)
Add visuals that support your audio story
Drop in key metrics when they come up
Show your work when it's mentioned
4. Production Polish
Keep the pace moving with relevant stock footage
Add background music that matches your vibe
Use transitions that don't distract
End with a clear call to action (Make it obvious how to contact you!)
The Human Touch
Here's the thing about job hunting in 2025: we're all trying to tell our stories in a sea of infinite scroll. But what if instead of adding to the noise, we could create moments of genuine connection?
That's what this approach is really about. Yes, it uses fancy AI and video tools, but at its core, it's about letting people experience your journey, not just read about it. It's about turning "here's my work history" into "here's why my journey matters."
And look, I get it. Making a video about yourself might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. (Trust me, I cringed at least three times during this process.) But that's kind of the point. In a world where everyone's playing it safe with traditional resumes, maybe being a little uncomfortable is exactly what we need to stand out.
So give it a shot. Play with NotebookLM. Have fun with Adobe Express. Create something that makes recruiters say "wow" instead of "where did I file that resume?"
The worst that could happen? You spend a few hours creating something different. The best? Well, my inbox has been pretty interesting lately. 😉
I'm really curious: what other creative approaches have you seen or tried to cut through the job search clutter? Any wild experiments that actually worked? Any spectacular fails that taught you something? (My first attempt involved interpretive dance... just kidding. Or am I? 🤔)
Drop a comment below or message me if you want to see an example, need some tips, or have your own story to share. Let's make job hunting a little more human, one AI-assisted video at a time.
