How to Create Onboarding Videos for New Employees

Effective employee onboarding can make or break a new hire's experience, yet most companies still rely on outdated methods that leave employees overwhelmed and disengaged. I've seen firsthand how onboarding videos for new employees transform this critical process by delivering important information in a format that's both engaging and memorable.

Creating these videos doesn't require professional filming equipment or video editing skills anymore. With the right approach and a tool like Synthesia, you can easily develop high-quality onboarding videos that welcome, inform, and prepare your new team members for success from day one.

How To Create Onboarding Videos Step By Step

Step 1: Set Objectives For Your Onboarding Videos

Define clear goals for each video in your onboarding sequence:

• Company introduction: History, mission, and vision
• Cultural integration: Values and workplace norms
• Role clarity: Job expectations and responsibilities
• Policy understanding: Important rules and procedures
• Team connection: Introducing colleagues and reporting structure

Tip for Success: I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet mapping each video objective to specific onboarding milestones (pre-boarding, first day, first week, first month).

Step 2: Plan And Script Each Video

Break your onboarding content into focused modules of 1-3 minutes each. This improves engagement and makes information easier to digest.

Write conversational scripts that directly address the viewer using "you" language. This creates a more personal connection.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't try to cover too many topics in one video. I've found that each video should focus on a single main idea or process to maximize retention.

Step 3: Choose A Template And Avatar

Select a Synthesia video template that matches the purpose of your onboarding content. Different templates work better for different types of information.

Choose an avatar that represents your company appropriately. Consider factors like demographic representation and professional appearance.

Alternative Approach: For maximum impact, create custom avatars of actual company leaders. This adds authenticity and helps new hires recognize key people.

Step 4: Personalize And Localize

Use placeholders in your scripts to personalize videos with the new hire's name, team, or manager. I've seen this small touch significantly increase engagement.

For global teams, leverage AI translation capabilities to create versions in multiple languages. This ensures non-native speakers receive the same quality onboarding experience.

Practical Example: Create a welcome video template with placeholders for the new hire's name and team. Each employee receives a personalized welcome that feels created just for them, while you use the same base template.

Step 5: Build Out The Video Sequence

Map your videos to specific points in the employee journey:

• Pre-boarding: Send before day one
• First day: Essential orientation
• First week: Role and team integration
• First month: Deeper company knowledge

Progress Validation: After creating your sequence, I suggest having a recent hire review it to confirm the order makes logical sense from their perspective.

Step 6: Create And Edit Videos

With AI video platforms like ours at Synthesia, creating professional videos is as simple as pasting your script and selecting your visual elements.

Take advantage of our collaboration features to get input from subject matter experts across your organization. This ensures accuracy.

Troubleshooting Tip: If your video feels too robotic, try breaking up longer sentences, adding natural pauses, and using contractions to create a more conversational tone.

Step 7: Generate And Share

Once you're satisfied with your video content, generate the final versions and create a distribution plan. Consider how videos will be shared:

• Through your learning management system
• Via email links
• In team communication channels
• On your company intranet

Success Indicator: Proper sharing means new hires can easily find and access videos at the right moment in their onboarding journey.

Step 8: Gather Feedback & Iterate

Ask new employees for specific feedback about the onboarding videos:

• Was the information clear and easy to understand?
• Did the videos help you feel prepared for your role?
• What additional topics would you like to see covered?

Track engagement metrics like completion rates to identify which videos are most effective.

What Are Onboarding Videos For New Employees

Onboarding videos are video resources that welcome, inform, and train new hires when they join your company. They deliver key information in an engaging format that helps employees feel welcomed while learning about their workplace.

I've seen video onboarding improve information retention by up to 80% compared to text-based materials. This makes complex information more digestible and memorable.

These employee onboarding videos typically include:

• Welcome videos from leadership
• Company culture explanations
• Role-specific training modules
• Technical setup guides

Why Use Onboarding Videos

Onboarding videos create a standardized experience that ensures every new hire receives the same high-quality introduction to your company.

For HR teams, videos dramatically reduce time spent repeating information. Videos also ensure consistency in messaging across all locations.

Key benefits include:

• Time Efficiency: Videos can be viewed at the employee's pace
• Consistency: Every employee receives identical information
• Engagement: Visual storytelling creates emotional connections
• Accessibility: Videos can be accessed anytime, anywhere

Employee Onboarding Video Best Practices

1. Keep Content Short And Engaging

I always recommend keeping your onboarding videos between 1-3 minutes per topic. Break complex subjects into multiple short videos rather than creating one lengthy presentation.

2. Showcase Company Culture And Values

Include testimonials from current employees sharing their experiences. Consider creating "day-in-the-life" segments that show what the workplace environment is actually like.

3. Provide Clear Next Steps And Resources

Every onboarding video should end with actionable information or clear next steps. Include links to additional resources where employees can learn more.

Types Of Employee Onboarding Videos

Different types of onboarding videos serve specific purposes:

• Welcome videos introduce new hires to the company and its leadership
• Company culture videos explain your organization's values and mission
• Role-specific training videos focus on job responsibilities and processes
• Policy and compliance videos cover essential HR information
• Technical setup videos walk employees through IT systems and software access

Measuring Success And Gathering Feedback

Monitor key metrics to understand how employees interact with your onboarding videos:

• Completion rates: Do viewers watch videos all the way through?
• Drop-off points: Where do viewers stop watching?
• Repeat views: Which videos are rewatched most frequently?

Send short surveys to new employees after they complete the onboarding video sequence. Establish a regular schedule for reviewing and updating your onboarding videos.

I recommend starting by auditing your current onboarding materials to identify the highest-priority topics for video conversion. Begin with a small pilot project to build confidence and demonstrate value to stakeholders.

When you're ready, create a free AI video with us at Synthesia to see how quickly you can roll out consistent, engaging employee onboarding videos.