Employee Testimonials: Building Trust Through Corporate Video

Your People Are Your Best Storytellers—The Numbers Prove It

Hiring isn’t just about listing job perks anymore. When it comes to choosing their next career move, 79% of job seekers trust real employee testimonials way more than polished marketing speak. Candidates don’t just want to read about your great culture; they want to see (and believe) what it’s really like to work for your company. The best way to do that is with a corporate video featuring your own employees! The stats don’t lie:

• 800% more engagement on job posts with employee videos
• 2x higher click-through rates on career pages with real team stories
• 36% more applications for job listings featuring employee testimonials
• 1,200% more shares of video testimonials than text and images combined

That’s not just an edge—it’s a recruitment game-changer. In his article, we break down how to create employee testimonial videos that:

1. Build an employer brand worth trusting
2. Attract top talent
3. Create genuine connections that turn candidates into team members

No fluff. No corporate speak. Just tried-and-true strategies to let your team drive your hiring success.

The Real Power Behind Employee Testimonials

Your people provide more authenticity and social proof than any marketing campaign ever could. Why? Because we naturally trust faces we relate to, voices that sound like ours, and stories that mirror our own journeys. We look to our peers for guidance when making big decisions—including career moves. It’s human nature to trust those who’ve walked the path before us.

Psychology of Peer Influence

We’re wired to follow the lead of people we can relate to. Research shows that this psychological mechanism is especially powerful when individuals share similar circumstances or observations. Candidates trust current employees because they see themselves in their experiences. Trust translates into action, encouraging more candidates to apply, engage deeply in the hiring process, and ultimately choose a workplace where they feel they truly belong.

Screen Time = Real Connection

Let real employees tell real stories. Seeing a person’s face, hearing their voice, and feeling their enthusiasm makes a huge difference. The proof? Job posts with video get 800% more engagement than standard listings. Employee testimonials create relatable connections and offer authenticity that traditional recruiting messages lack. A genuine smile and an honest story will always beat a scripted corporate memo. What makes these stories stick:

• Messages hit home.-95% retention with video vs. only 10% for text
• Authenticity you can't fake - seeing is believing
• Stories worth sharing - videos spread across platforms effortlessly

Impact on Employer Branding

Employee testimonial videos don’t just boost hiring—they shape your company’s reputation and brand. And since 83% of job seekers research company culture before applying, it's essential to show them what it’s really like to work for you. The impact is amazing:

• Showcase your team? 28% lower turnover rates!
• Put your employees front and center? 30% increase in applications!
• Share employee content on social? 50% increase in followers!

How to Create Powerful Employee Testimonial Videos

Use real talk to make real videos. Forget the fancy production tricks—your employees’ authenticity is your biggest asset. Here’s how to bottle that magic:

Find Your Stars

Rock-solid employee testimonials start with the right faces. Look for the natural storytellers - the ones who light up when talking about their work. Choose storytellers that:

• Live and breathe your company culture
• Have inspiring growth stories
• Represent diverse perspectives and backgrounds
• Feel comfortable on camera (or at least willing to try!)
• Show passion for their work—enthusiasm is contagious

Keep It Real

Your people know their story best, so give them the mic. You can do a deep dive with them to uncover personal wins and measurable victories, but they should shape the narrative. Let their personality and sincerity shine through. Offer a few power questions to help them write their story:

• “What’s your biggest win here?”
• “How has this company helped you grow?”
• “What’s a moment that made you feel valued?”
• “Can you show us your team in action?”

Pro Tip: Make the process comfortable and natural. Grab coffee before the cameras roll and have a casual chit-chat. Magic happens when your team feels at ease.

Go A Step Further

Most employee testimonials talk about working for your company, but you can take it a step further by having them focus on particular roles. Video-based job previews lead to better hires! Give candidates a feel for the day-to-day of specific jobs you may be seeking:

• Encourage details. This isn’t about hyping the company; it’s about helping candidates find the right fit.
• Use prompts. To keep the discussion job-focused, try “A typical day as a [job title] looks like…” or “The skills I’ve gained are…”
• Set the stage. Use these to kick off on-demand video interviews and get candidates excited about the position!

Make It Count

Effective testimonials weave important information through compelling stories. However, finding the sweet spot between structure and spontaneity is crucial for professional results. Give your people talking points, but skip the scripts. Overrehearsed equals underdelivered. Honest employee testimonials beat polished performances. Every. Single. Time.

Pro Tip: Transcribe interviews and record everything! Those spontaneous, heartfelt moments are pure gold. And make sure to edit for impact, not perfection. Even the occasional "um" or thoughtful pause can add credibility.

Elements That Make Employee Testimonials Soar

Your stories deserve more than just point-and-shoot treatment. Well-crafted videos with an authentic narrative pull 157% more organic traffic from search engines. Here are tips for making your employee testimonials soar to new heights:

Storytelling That Sticks

Great employee testimonials aren’t just soundbites—they’re stories with heart. The best ones follow a clear narrative, bringing real experiences to life with specific details and genuine emotion. What makes a testimonial really resonate?

• Personal experiences and growth journeys.
• Measurable outcomes and achievements.
• Emotional, relatable moments.
• Real proof of company impact.

Tech That Serves the Story

Quality matters. Viewers stick around 1.4x longer when your production values shine. But remember-tech serves the story, not the other way around. To make high-quality employee testimonials, your video toolkit should include:

• Camera angles that flatter—slightly off-center works best.
• Good lighting—natural and bright.
• Clear audio—voices should be crisp and easy to hear.
• Subtle background music—adds emotion without overpowering the message.

Culture That Jumps Off the Screen

Seeing the energy, values, and faces behind a brand helps potential employees connect on a deeper level. Showcasing company culture attracts the right talent and turns a simple video into a powerful recruiting tool. What’s more- 66% of employees are more likely to stay long-term in a company with a strong culture. Ensure your employee testimonials capture your culture by:

• Using candid moments and real office scenes.
• Including clips of employees interacting, collaborating, and enjoying their work.
• Featuring a mix of voices from different roles and backgrounds.
• Highlighting your values- whether it’s teamwork, innovation, or work-life balance.

Inside Impact: Your Stories, Your Success

Testimonial videos aren’t just great for recruitment—they also boost morale and engagement. Why does that matter? Because more than half of employees rank feeling valued as there first priority. And the impact of happy employees is enormous!

Teams That Click, Stick

Video storytelling can help form a tight crew and bridge the gap for remote teams missing that in-office connection. Team morale encourages longer relationships and greater productivity. In fact, 68% of employees say they are less likely to burn out when they feel connected. And there’s more:

• 58% more likely to excel at work when employees feel connected.
• 55% more daily engagement in collaborative teams.
• 97.5% retention when workplace bonds are strong.

Engagement Moves Mountains

Turns out the biggest reason for employee absenteeism is lack of engagement. It makes sense, then, that companies investing in employee engagement outperform competitors by 147% in earnings per share! And it doesn’t stop there:

• 26% revenue increase in companies with engaged employees.
• 4.2x stronger commitment from employees who feel heard.
• 25% more profitability for culture-driven companies.

External Impact of Employee Testimonials

Strategic distribution of these videos maximizes visibility, builds credibility, and attracts top talent. The more places your video lives, the greater its impact!

Expand Your Reach

Sharing employee testimonial videos across multiple platforms ensures they reach the right audience at the right time:

• Career pages—turn interest into applications.
• Company website—showcase your culture.
• Email marketing—boost open and click-through rates.
• Glassdoor & Indeed—build credibility.
• LinkedIn & professional networks—increase engagement.
• Social media—drive shares and visibility.

Change Your Recruitment Game

Video testimonials aren't just content - they're your secret hiring weapon. Studies verify that these videos will change your recruitment game:

• Job posts pull 36% more applications.
• Career pages double their engagement.
• Hiring time is cut in half.
• Qualified applicants increase by 50%.

The Bottom Line: Employee Stories Drive Results

Employee testimonial videos are one of the most powerful ways to showcase your company culture, build trust, and attract the right talent. And data proves that they really drive results!

When done right, they go beyond generic praise and give candidates a real, relatable look at what it’s like to work at your organization.

The key? Keep it authentic, focus on the role, and distribute your videos where they’ll have the biggest impact.

Ready to create employee testimonials that truly connect? Levitate Media specializes in producing high-quality, engaging videos that bring your company’s story to life. We offer on-site pro production or the ease and affordability of remote recording. Let’s make something great together—get in touch today!