Recruiters are requesting TikTok videos instead of cover letters and resumes

Applying for jobs via social media platforms is becoming increasingly popular among Gen Z job seekers and recruiters. See why and how it can boost your chances.

Young Australians are increasingly being encouraged to ditch traditional job application methods in favour of private video submissions and social media posts.

No longer requesting cover letters and resumes, recruiters at Hilton hotels are asking job seekers to showcase their “authentic selves” in a TikTok video using the designated hashtag #HireMeHilton.

Hilton Australasia’s Regional Human Resources Director Mary Hogg said traditional application processes are “labour intensive” but “TikTok encourages people to be their real, authentic selves and this is exactly what we want to see as an employer that values diversity”.

A recent survey by Hilton revealed the majority of Gen Z job seekers are turning to platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat, saying they would rather apply for a position via social media than write a resume.

While further research by Randstad reveals that one in four survey respondents under 35 had successfully found a job through social media platforms.

David Aragao, Hilton employee, films a TikTok to celebrate the launch of the #HireMeHilton pilot campaign. Chris Pavlich Photography

Hilton also found job hunters between the ages of 18 and 24 face numerous barriers when applying and securing work, due to a lack of “relevant” experience.

But other recent research by the specialised recruitment firm Robert Half found slightly more than one in four employers (28 per cent) were found to be “relaxing their qualifications and experience criteria” in order to find staff.

The finding came from a survey of 300 hiring managers.

Robert Half director Nicole Gorton said she had seen an upward trend for video job applications and believes they are a “useful tool” when finding suitable candidates for client-facing roles.

“It’s been slow off the mark but we are seeing more companies wanting to use videos for hiring purposes, it can attract the right people,” she said.

“However, we always highly encourage in-person interviews where possible”, she said.

Hilton has launched an industry-first #HireMeHilton pilot for Aussie job seekers. Picture: Chris Pavlich Photography

Psychologist Aaron McEwan, VP Research and Advisory at management consultancy Gartner, said social media application videos had pros and cons.

While the process could give real insight into an applicant’s personalities, Mr McEwan said employers also need to be aware candidates could potentially mislead to get through the screening process.

“Similar to embellishing the truth on their CVs, some people potentially could create online personas, which may not accurately reflect who they are,” he said.

Mr McEwan said there were also potential data security risks associated with hosting videos on your personal social media accounts.

“Putting it [video] on TikTok, any potential employer could then have immediate access to your social media history”, he said.