How I Secured My Ideal Role at Adobe After Dozen Applications

At the beginning of 2023, I found myself without a job, but fortunately, I had both a severance package and savings, so there was no immediate panic.

Instead of sending applications to a multitude of employers, I concentrated on one company: Adobe.

Just before my layoff, a friend invited me to visit Adobe's headquarters in San Jose, CA. My passion for design was ignited when a family member introduced me to Adobe Illustrator. With a regular habit of using Adobe's products, joining their team became my career aspiration. Adobe was now my mission.

I decided to make my application memorable with a unique approach—a video cover letter. For a month, I directed all my efforts towards a single Adobe position, which I didn't secure, but I remained committed to my plan.

After completing my video in February, I monitored Adobe's job listings. Over six months, I applied for 10 roles—aiming even higher than my qualifications allowed—and faced rejections. Finally, in December, I submitted my 12th application for a UX designer position, leading to an interview and subsequently, an offer for a full-time contract with a six-figure income. Achieving this came 13 months post-layoff.

The Power of a Video Cover Letter

My fascination with video cover letters began after watching a YouTube video where someone creatively sang about their desired position. Inspired by their success, I ventured to create a personal video to accompany my Adobe applications.

The video, lasting a minute and a half, outlined my journey into graphic and UX design, highlighted my educational and professional background, shared design skills, fun facts, and my reasons for wanting to work at Adobe. Recorded on a Canon DSLR, and edited with Adobe Premiere Pro, it was a straightforward production without extra equipment.

I integrated the video twofold: first, by uploading it privately on YouTube and hyperlinking it in my résumé, and second, by embedding a snapshot into a PDF document labeled 'video cover letter' with the same hyperlink included.

Advice came suggesting a broader job search approach instead of focusing solely on Adobe. However, diversifying felt like conceding that Adobe might be out of reach.

Eventually, I did widen my search and crafted a more general video cover letter for other companies, yet Adobe remained my primary target.

Strategically, I also worked on networking, posting my video cover letter on LinkedIn in June 2023. Unsure of the response, this choice surprisingly expanded my connections within Adobe, building a network that fueled my enthusiasm.

The head of hiring later shared that my video not only added a personal touch to my application but also distinguished me from the competition. Moreover, my LinkedIn activity appeared to enhance my candidacy.

Why Video Cover Letters?

A high production value isn't critical for effective video cover letters. Authenticity, clarity, and a natural manner of speaking can suffice in making it influential.

I advocate for video cover letters because they transform a static application into an engaging narrative, bringing applicants to life in a sea of text. In today's competitive job market, a video can be a distinct advantage, devoid of real drawbacks.