Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Getting Work as a Video Screencaster (Part 2 of 2)

We talk about “Screencasting” a lot here at Learn Camtasia but just in case you are still a little unsure of what a screencast is, Wikipedia defines a Screencast as 

A digital recording of computer screen output, also known as a video screen capture, often containing audio narration.

Therefore, a professional screencaster is someone who makes their living offering these screencasts as a service. A service, I (Michelle Schoen) have been providing for clients over the last 15 years. So, as promised in my last blog post,  I will continue to answer the FAQs I get about getting into this career and finding work.

6. I don’t have money to buy the tools, but all Screencasting jobs seem to require knowledge of these tools.

If you are a student, you could purchase academic versions of the software for usually half price or less. For example, you can buy an academic license to Camtasia Studio for half the normal price to learn how to use it. Many other screencasting products have similar academic discounts. (Note that academic software restricts you from using the software commercially.)

You could also download trial versions of the software. The trials usually end after 30 days, so you have a limited opportunity to learn the software during this time.

You could try using open source substitutes. I don’t recommend this method because:

• Employers look for knowledge of specific tools, usually industry standard ones. When you invest so much time and energy in learning a software tool, you want this time investment to have a significant return.
• The Open Source tools don’t provide the features or support that the paid products do.

If your goal is to  get a permanent position, employers want prospective employees to know industry standard tools such as Photoshop rather than Gimp, Microsoft Word rather than Open Office, Camtasia Studio rather than Camstudio and so on. However, if you want to be a contractor, it doesn’t really matter as much as your client is more interested in the finished product.

7. Could I get a job as a remote Video Screencaster working from home?

If you’re interested in a permanent job, you can find some jobs that are available for more seasoned screencasters. Usually you need more experience before employers will trust you to work from home. Even so, many employers want you to be on site at least part of the time. As a contractor, I have worked from home on 90% of my jobs and have been asked to come into an office on some local work.

8. What exactly do Screencasters do all day?

Video Screencasters do a variety of tasks, including some or all of the following:

• Interview subject matter experts one-on-one to ask questions and learn more about content for their videos
• Create scripts and storyboards on how to use software applications and various niches for their clients
• Create and locate graphics and other visuals that explain technical concepts, processes and ideas
• Record and edit video tutorials that show how to use technical products and other procedures and processes
• Create e-learning courses, marketing videos, affiliate videos (using PowerPoint, Explaindio, Powtoon, VideoScribe and other tools) for clients
• Research other new tools and resources to see if they are worthy of adoption

9. How can I get a contract as a Video Screencaster?

Getting your first contract as a video screencaster is usually the hardest. Follow these five steps:

1. Build up your knowledge of tools. For example, learn Camtasia, PowerPoint for video creation and Audacity.
2. Create a portfolio of sample Screencasts. For example, create an online tutorial, a how-to course and a marketing video.
3. Identify your strengths and build additional specializations. These specializations might include technical tutorials, sales page videos, e-learning, software demos,  project management or another hybrid skill.
4. Start a blog to record insights and experiences about the field of tech comm. A blog will provide evidence of your knowledge, show your enthusiasm for the field and let clients get a feel for your style, intelligence and engagement.
5. Apply for online contracts. In spite of the competion. a site like Upwork.com (formerly elance.com and Odesk.com) had hundreds of potential clients looking for good workers.

10. How can I get a permanent  job as a Video Screencaster?

• Research the companies you want to work for and identify a good fit for your skills. After you research the companies, create a custom cover letter that presents a case for why you would make such a good fit for the company.  Taking the time to write a custom cover letter will certainly get the attention of a prospective employer.
• Network on LinkedIn. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and contains links to your portfolio. Most Headhunters will start their search here.
• Look through the job sites. There are a lot of job sites with requests for people who know Camtasia (Monster, Dice, Yahoo and more). Look for keywords such as video editing, video tutorials and animated video.
• If necessary, move to a city that has a lot of video opportunities. Some popular cities are Seattle, San Jose, Austin, Boston, New York, Denver, San Antonio, Chicago, Atlanta, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and many more.

In conclusion, I’ve been both a video screencaster as an employee (IBM and AT&T) and as a contractor (Kimberly Clark, FDIC, Oracle, Chick-fil-A and numerous other small companies). Both experiences were fun, creative and satisfying. Remember, to learn more about this field, check out our course “A Career in Screencasting” while it’s still priced at only $197.