Video submissions seem to be more common for a lot of larger hospitals as the first step in decreasing the amount of applicants they’ll need to sift through on paper. At this point in the interview process, they’ve glanced over applications that they’ve deemed “good enough,” either based on experiences/formatting/GPA and are eager to learn more about you. This allows hospitals to see YOU, IN PERSON, rather than just on paper which is a big deal if you can make a great first impression! Here a few tips for how to make your submission stand out amongst the other applicants!

Good Lighting, Sound & Background

These three are of utmost importance. While having a solid background is great – another option is to have things that showcase YOU in the background (without being overly distracting). This is basically an opportunity for you to present a small version of your portfolio in video form to the internship coordinators.

I chose during my video submission to use my heart-shaped picture collage (that I already had in my bedroom as decor) of all of the babies in my life whether that be from my church’s nursery, babysitting or friends’ babies. It was a great way to showcase who I was in those short two-minutes while I spoke about why I felt I was this particular hospital’s next Child Life Intern.

Tips for Making a Dang Good Video

I grew up making videos with my sister so this submission felt like a piece of cake to me. It may not feel that way for everyone else who may be a little less comfortable using videos so here are a few easy takeaways to consider.

Use a phone/real camera if you can rather than the webcam on your computer.

Have someone else hold the camera for you (if possible) so they can get you at different angles/close-ups if needed. This way the video doesn’t appear so straightforward and awkward. 

If you can’t have someone hold the camera for you, make sure to prop your camera up on something that is at eye-level so you’re not looking down or looking up at the camera. This will make your video look/feel more like they’re talking to you in person.

If you have an iPhone, utilize that free app “iMovie” to make your video. This is how I made mine almost five years ago and it was so easy to use. It allowed me to fade in from black and fade out to black which just added a little something extra rather than seeing my hand reach up to either start or stop recording.

By using the iMovie app, I was also able to incorporate other pictures while I still was talking in the background. Pictures of unique crafts and activities that I completed during my practicum or projects that I wanted to showcase.

Video Submissions with Multiple Questions

Same thing goes for video submissions that are asking you to answer multiple questions. If it’s a question about a unique volunteer experience or something that happened during your practicum, a picture says a thousand words! So incorporate them when it’s appropriate. It’ll show that extra effort you’re putting into your video as well.

With video submissions you have the magic of a do-over, so use this to your advantage. Watch your video entry before submitting and if you don’t like something – make sure you redo it. This is your first interaction with the hospital! Be sure to follow all directions exactly as stated. For example, when there is a time limit, don’t go over (even by a few seconds). This shows your ability to not only follow directions but also be concise when necessary.

If you find that you’re having to redo it over and over again, that can feel defeating in itself. Take a breather – go for a walk, get something to eat or do something else that helps you relax *ahem, Netflix or a nap for me.*

When you come back to it, you’ll feel so much more refreshed and hopefully more prepared to knock this video submission out of the park!

Remember to smile and good luck!