First impressions matter. For companies, the first impression is often shaped by employee onboarding. Yet, in today’s digital-first world, this process can feel cold, transactional, and impersonal. The good news? With one simple tool—video—you can transform onboarding from a sterile checklist into a warm, human-centered experience that makes new hires feel connected from day one.
Imagine it’s your first day at an exciting new job—but you’re at home, staring at your laptop. Your inbox fills with automated emails, portals, and endless forms. It’s efficient, perhaps, but also isolating. You click through modules without connecting to a single person. Unfortunately, this is the reality for far too many employees today.
The numbers tell the story:
Why does this happen? A closer look reveals the hurdles:
Together, these issues leave new hires feeling unprepared, undervalued, and like little more than another number in a spreadsheet.
What if you could add a human touch without losing efficiency? This is where video comes in.
Consider the difference between a generic text-based welcome email and a personalized video message. The former is easily skimmed and forgotten; the latter delivers warmth, enthusiasm, and authenticity. Video communicates not only information but also humanity—it literally puts a face to the company and a voice to its culture.
The impact is remarkable. One organization that adopted personalized welcome videos achieved a perfect employee net promoter score (NPS) of 100. When people feel spoken to, rather than spoken at, it changes everything.
Video doesn’t just benefit employees—it also creates tangible business value:
In short, video onboarding is a strategic win for both people and performance.
Adopting video doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s a simple framework to guide your strategy:
Step five is especially crucial. Video should complement, not replace, human interaction. Pair on-demand videos with live Q&A sessions, team introductions, and manager check-ins. This blended approach ensures efficiency without losing the human connection.
As Maya Angelou once said, people may forget what you said or did, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Onboarding is no exception. By integrating video, companies can create an experience where new hires feel seen, valued, and truly welcomed.
The question every organization should ask is simple:
On day one, how do you want your new employees to feel?