A video job ad shows candidates who you are before they read a single line of the advert. Here is what to put in it, an example script and where to use it.
A job advert on a jobs board looks much like the next one: a title, a list of duties, a list of requirements. A short video job ad does something a text can't: a person looks into the camera, tells you what the job is really like and invites you to apply. For a small business that can't compete on employer brand, that personal touch is often the strongest argument it has.
This guide shows you what goes into a good video job ad, gives you an example script and explains where you can use it.
Why a video job ad?
Many of the people you want to reach are not actively scrolling job boards. They are on social media, in a break, half watching. A 20-second clip with a friendly face stops the scroll more easily than a block of text, and it answers the question every candidate silently asks: would I like working there?
A video also filters gently. When you show the setting, the tone and the shifts, people who would not fit tend not to apply, and the right ones feel addressed. And you can reuse the same film in several places without writing a new advert each time.
What goes into a good video job ad
Keep it to what really matters. A short film has room for four things:
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The role in plain words. "Receptionist" or "van driver", not an internal job title.
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Two or three real benefits. The things that make a difference in daily life: shift patterns, training, flexible hours, a staff meal. Only what is actually true.
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The feeling. Who will the new person work with? The setting and the speaker show this better than adjectives.
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One clear next step. Where to apply and how long it takes.
Leave out the full list of duties and requirements. They belong in the written advert the video links to. Check the wording of your video as carefully as you would any job advert.
Example script: receptionist for a seaside hotel
Our example is The Saltmarsh Hotel, a small independent hotel by the sea, looking for a receptionist. The manager speaks herself, behind her own front desk:
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Scene 1 (about 5 seconds): She taps the brass bell on the desk and looks up: "Fancy being the first friendly face our guests see?" A gold "We're hiring" badge appears.
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Scene 2 (about 8 seconds): "We're looking for a receptionist, full- or part-time. Day shifts only, we train you, and there's a staff meal on every shift." The three points appear as short ticked lines.
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Scene 3 (about 5 seconds): She holds a key card towards the camera: "Your key to a new job: apply on our website, it takes five minutes."
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End card: the hotel name and "Apply now on our website".
Example film, made with ClipStage · AI-generated
Where you can use the video
One film, many places. Some ideas:
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Instagram Reel or Facebook post with a link to the full advert in the caption or bio.
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WhatsApp status for customers and regulars: they often know someone who is looking.
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Careers page on your website, right above the written job description.
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Email or chat message to your staff, asking them to share it with friends and family.
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Screen at reception or in the shop, where customers see it while they wait.
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Jobs fair or trade fair screen, running on a loop at your stand.
Tips on length, format and look
Length: 15 to 30 seconds is enough. Say the role in the first few seconds, before people swipe on.
Format: portrait (9:16) works best for Reels, stories and WhatsApp status; landscape (16:9) suits your website and a screen. If you need both, order them together. Square (1:1) and 4:5 versions are cut from the same source at no extra charge.
Look: on-screen text should suit the occasion. For a job ad, a "We're hiring" badge, ticked lines for the benefits and a clear end card with your name and the next step work well. Keep each line short: many people watch without sound.
Sound: light background music, quiet under the voice. A sung version is possible too, if your business has that kind of humour.
How it works with ClipStage in three steps
1.
Tell the director about the job. In a short conversation with our AI director you explain the role, the benefits and the tone. The director writes the script and storyboard. The start fee of €9.90 (Deluxe €19.90) is deducted in full from your first purchase afterwards.
2.
Check a test scene if you like. A test video is one scene of the real film, about 6 seconds, for €9.90. When you buy the film, €4.95 comes off the price. You can also order directly.
3.
Get your finished film. The character speaks lip-synced, with music and on-screen text. Three rounds of corrections are included. A 20-second film in Premium costs €80; every round you don't use is refunded after acceptance. No subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Can I appear in the video myself? Not yet. Your own recorded avatar is coming soon. For now, an invented character speaks for your business, styled to suit your trade.
Can I make the job ad in English and German? Yes. Films can be made in English or German, so you can reach candidates in both languages.
What if the role changes, for example from full-time to part-time? The film includes three rounds of corrections. If you need changes later, a further round costs the same as one included round.