Video Cover Letter: How to Make One + Script

A video cover letter is a 60 to 90 second recorded pitch you send with your resume to show how you communicate and why you fit the role. Record one when the employer asks or the job is client-facing, and send it alongside a written cover letter, not instead of one.

This guide covers the length, the script, what to include, how to send it, recording setup and mistakes, and whether to send one at all.

A video cover letter shows how you communicate, why you fit the role, and what one achievement proves you can do the work. If this is a one-way video interview, answer the exact question first. If this is an optional video supplement, use the script below.

How long should a video cover letter be?

A video cover letter should run 60 to 90 seconds unless the employer gives a different limit. That is the range ZipRecruiter career expert Sam DeMase gave Business Insider, with a short introduction, how your skills match the job description with a couple of specific examples, and why you are excited about the role and company.

Video Cover Letter vs One-Way Video Interview

These are often confused, but they are not the same.

In consulting, a video cover letter can appear in early screening for communication-heavy roles or as part of broader application review. A one-way interview is more likely to ask questions such as "Why this firm?", "Tell me about yourself," or "Describe a time you led a team."

How do you write a video cover letter script?

Write the script in four blocks, then speak it from bullet points instead of reading it. Business Insider's career experts advised writing a script but not reading directly from it, and not speaking too fast. Use this 75-second structure:

What should a video cover letter include?

Include one strong proof point, your fit for the role, and a clean close.

Do not retell your whole resume. Hiring teams can already read your resume. The video should prove three things:

• You can communicate clearly.
• You understand the role.
• You have one concrete achievement that maps to the job.

For consulting, the proof point should ideally involve analysis, leadership, client or stakeholder communication, or a measurable improvement. If your strongest proof is not business-related, translate it into consulting skills: structure, communication, judgment, teamwork, and follow-through.

Recording Setup

You do not need studio production. You do need clarity.

Record three takes, then stop. The goal is polished enough, not perfect. A video that sounds over-rehearsed can hurt you because consulting interviews require natural communication under pressure.

How do you send a video cover letter?

Put a link to the video at the top of your written cover letter, or at the top of your resume if you skip the letter. Business Insider reports ZipRecruiter's Sam DeMase suggested a line such as "If you prefer to watch a short video of me highlighting why I think I'm a great fit for this position, click here." She also recommended filming vertically on your phone, speaking to the camera as you would on a video call, and uploading the video to YouTube as an unlisted video. If the application portal has its own upload field, use that and follow its stated limit.

Common Mistakes

If you are applying to multiple consulting firms, write a separate script for each firm. The firm-specific sentence should be impossible to copy and paste into another application without sounding wrong.

When The Prompt Is Behavioral

If the video prompt asks a behavioral question, do not use the generic script. Use a compressed STAR answer:

1. One-sentence context.
2. Your responsibility.
3. The decision or action you took.
4. Measurable result.
5. One-sentence learning.

For examples, use tell me about yourself in consulting interviews and STAR method for consulting interviews. If the prompt asks why the role, pair this with the why consulting answer guide.

Should you send a video cover letter at all?

Send one when the employer asks for it or the job is customer-facing or communication-heavy; otherwise it is optional. Business Insider's career experts said a video cover letter should supplement a written one, especially when the company requires a written letter. They also said it can help in customer-facing roles and in fields like consulting, marketing and tech.

Think twice in two cases. ZipRecruiter's Sam DeMase warned that sending video can expose older applicants to age discrimination, and said to reconsider if the employer seems "super old school" or you are not confident speaking on camera.

Video Cover Letters for Consulting

For consulting candidates, the video should feel like a concise client update: clear opening, structured proof, direct relevance, and no filler. Consulting candidates should sound structured and client-ready, not theatrical.

If a firm sends you a recorded-prompt step instead, that is a different format. See the BCG one-way video interview for how one firm runs it. For the written side, use the BCG cover letter guide and the consulting cover letter guide.

Submission Checklist

Before submitting, check:

• File name includes your name and target role.
• Video meets the stated time limit.
• Audio is clear without headphones rubbing or keyboard noise.
• You say the correct firm and role.
• You include one quantified proof point.
• You close with a simple thank you.
• The application version is logged in your tracker.

If you still need to organize firm deadlines and application assets, use the consulting application tracker before recording more versions.

Sources and Further Reading

• Business Insider, "A video cover letter could help you stand out in a tough job market. Here's how to make one" (2025-04-13): https://www.businessinsider.com/video-cover-letters-how-make-mistakes-avoid-career-experts-2025-4