Last updated on 14th November 2023
Attention creative job seekers!
If you’re still sending out PDF, text-heavy resumes that aren’t getting attention from employers, you’ve come to the right place.
Animated video resumes are the new standard for job searching in the creative field.
Not sure where to get started?
We’ve pulled together 13 of the best animated resumes we’ve ever seen. Let these awe-inspiring examples guide your journey to resume greatness!
What is an animated video resume?
An animated resume is a video that explains your professional background, qualifications and skills just like a traditional resume. The big difference between the two – aside from the difference in the medium used to deliver them – is how engaging they are.
Animated resume videos give you a chance to wow potential employers and impress them with your video skills. However, an animated resume shouldn’t completely replace your traditional resume; many employers require applicants to submit a PDF version of their resume to even be considered.
But as an add-on, these videos are a great supplement to text resumes that will make you stand out from the crowd and get closer to the job of your dreams.
Why create an animated resume?
A regular resume isn’t enough anymore. Today’s applicants have to do something extraordinary to stand out in a highly saturated job market.
But why are animated resumes so awesome?
Here are just a few of our favourite things about video resumes.
- They help you stand out from the competition: Would you rather read a lengthy text resume or watch a fun, animated video? Exactly. Many employers feel the same way, meaning your resume is more likely to rise to the top of the viewing list if you submit both traditional text and animated video versions.
- They show your capabilities: Video resumes are perfect for people in creative industries because they communicate and prove your skills. While you’re using text on screen or voiceover to share your background and experience, your motion graphics and slick animation are proving that you can talk the talk and walk the walk.
- They capture short attention spans: What employer wants to spend hours and hours reading through stacks of printed resumes? Even when they do look at your resume, recruiters spend six seconds on average with each resume, which doesn’t give you much time to make an impression. On the other hand, watching a video resume isn’t just informative – it’s entertaining!
- They’re memorable: Studies show that people remember 10% of what they hear, 20% of what they read, and 80% of what they see and do, meaning when they watch your video resume, they could be 4x more likely to remember it than if they read your text resume.
13 brilliant animated resume examples
As you ponder whether to create an animated resume yourself, or what yours might look like, check out the 13 amazing examples we compiled below. Each is unique in its own way and shows a different approach to this trending job searching tool.
1. Maria Rodriguez
It’s becoming more and more common for colleges and universities to require students to create an animated resume before graduating.
This approach helps graduates stand out from the thousands of other job hunters they’re competing against, and creates a tone that’s more welcoming and personal than a paper resume.
Notice how college graduate Maria Rodriguez seamlessly covers a breadth of topics – professional experience, volunteerism, personality traits and skills like speaking Spanish and French – to tell a story that portrays her as a holistic, well-rounded candidate.
Maria does a great job using video to create a connection with the viewer, which we’re sure has helped her score some awesome interviews.
2. Emma Poorters
Emma Poorters put a unique spin on her animated resume by using a work-in-progress style. Her video shows her creating and editing the video itself in video editing software, proving that Emma is a skilled video professional because you can see her animation skills in action.
Just like with branded videos, professionals can use video elements like sound effects, voice over and music to create a unique feel.
Notice how Emma opted to forego a voiceover and instead use a chill track in the background of her video to create a modern and edgy mood. These small nuances empower a distinct and memorable viewing experience.
3. Josh Keogh
Josh Keogh does a great job walking viewers through each of his skills, like his comfort level with popular industry software, and his 2D and 3D design abilities.
Josh also uses this video to highlight some freelance work he’s completed outside of university.
Finally, he caps off his video with some personal interests to create a connection with the audience.
Notice how Josh uses a consistent colour palette and type treatment throughout his animated resume to create a cohesive experience just like a brand or company would.
4. Brianna Chiu
Just like any creative project, the beauty of an animated resume is in the details. Take a look at the moments of wonder Brianna Chiu incorporates into her video, like when she perfectly synchronises the music with the click of the mouse at 0:22.
Employers take notice of these seemingly small details, because they show a level of proficiency not achieved by every university graduate.
Brianna caps her animated resume with a motion graphics reel, sharing a variety of work samples to back up the claims she made in her resume.
5. Cecilia Di Giulio
Animated resumes don’t have to be loud and boisterous; sometimes simplicity can get the most attention. Take a look at Cecilia Di Giulio’s video for example. She only uses three colours and one font.
This clean look allows her content to shine and keeps viewers focused on the text on screen, not distracted by a cacophonic mix of colours, graphics, music, voiceover and motion.
6. Caleb Bol
The best videos – no matter the topic – should tell a story, and that’s also the case with animated resumes. Caleb Bol makes that concept more literal in his video resume as he narratively shares his childhood and work experience with viewers.
In just over a minute, Caleb gives us a sense of who he is and what he’s looking for in the future via storytelling. We give his animated resume two animated thumbs up.
7. Rudransh Mathur
This example is one of the more memorable animated resumes on our list. And it’s not because it’s flashy. Or busy. Or bold. In fact, what we love most about it is how simple yet polished it is.
Rudransh Mathur shows mastery of a single technique rather than a range of competencies, elevating his video above others.
Best of all, Rudransh’s style is unique; he uses a visual technique that mimics 3D mapping and reactive, bouncy elements to stand out from the crowd – and it works.
8. Azamat Alibayev
One of the most intriguing parts of animated resumes is that they can be so much more fun than traditional resumes; when is the last time anyone had fun reading a PDF resume?
Azamat Alibayev’s approach proves how entertaining video resumes can be. He mixes geometric visuals and electronic music to create a vibe that feels more like a music video mixed with video game elements than a resume – a guaranteed way to earn attention from employers looking to hire qualified motion graphics professionals.
9. Mustafa Abu Zaid
This upbeat animated resume gives potential employers a great window into who Mustafa Abu Zaid is. The video covers all of the basics: age, nationality, education. And also includes nifty animated examples that show his proficiency in certain languages and softwares – the latter being very important when hiring someone in the creative industry.
The best thing about this particular animated resume is that it ends with links to different places where Mustafa can be found online.
10. Jay Boone
Here’s a great example of a video resume from Jay Boone that blends live action footage and animation.
Jay incorporates footage he’s shot himself to show his wide range of videography skills that extend well beyond animation. His video is part resume, part motion graphics reel, and wholly impressive.
11. Guillaume Drigeard
Animated resumes can give so much insight into the creator’s personality, something traditional resumes struggle to do. For a great example, check out Guillaume Drigeard’s video resume.
Even if you don’t speak French, you can get a sense of who Guillaume is as a person. He uses an edgy, suave, James Bond-esque graphics style to portray himself as confident and experienced, two great qualities in any motion graphics pro.
12. Eddie Akatch
As if the wide variety of animated resume options on this list wasn’t enough, we’ve got another example that is completely distinct from any others in this post.
Eddie Akatch created a 3D world on a circuit board to prove his video mastery. His resume fuses high-tech visuals and sound effects for a look and feel that’s unique and memorable.
Our favourite part is the timeline he incorporates at 0:14 to show his extensive background in graphics and motion design. If we were pulling together a special ops video team, Eddie would be our first recruit.
13. Mary Patterson
Video resumes aren’t reserved solely for video professionals. In fact, creating an animated resume in a non-video field makes it even easier to stand out as a prime candidate. Mary Patterson used this technique in her animated resume, which shows off her skills as a social media specialist.
Mary takes a marketing-style approach, starting with the problem most companies face when it comes to social media. Then, she perfectly positions herself as the solution to those pain points.
This is one of the longer video resumes on our list, but Mary makes good use of every second by explaining her skills and providing a range of work samples to prove her expertise.
Wrapping up
All these incredible examples of killer animated resumes probably have your mind reeling with ideas about what your resume would look like in video form. If you’re ready to start creating an animated resume, here are a few tips:
1. Create a thoughtful visual brand: Each of the examples on our list has a different look and feel. These video creators use colour, typography, music, sound and more to craft a cohesive aesthetic that is unique to them. When brainstorming your animated resume, think about what kind of visuals and motion treatments reflect your approach to work so your personality shines in your animated resume.
2. Keep it interesting: The whole point of an animated resume is to keep things exciting for your viewer. Make sure you don’t produce a video that’s too long (2-minute videos are proven to get tons of engagement) or lacks energy. Keep things upbeat through thoughtful pacing and motion.
3. Leverage our resources: We’ve created a post dedicated to walking you through how to make an animated resume that gets you the job you want. Check out our post, How To Make a Video Resume, to get started today.
