First impressions matter — especially when it comes to welcoming a new hire. A well-structured onboarding process doesn’t just help employees settle in faster; it builds confidence, boosts engagement, and lays the groundwork for long-term retention. Yet, many organizations still rely on outdated manuals, lengthy presentations, and inconsistent training experiences.
That’s where onboarding videos are changing the game.
With the growing shift to remote and hybrid work, companies are embracing video training as a more engaging, efficient, and scalable way to onboard employees. Whether it's a welcome message from the CEO or a visual walkthrough of internal tools, employee onboarding videos deliver clarity, consistency, and connection — all in a format today’s workforce prefers.
In this blog, we’ll explore how new hire videos can transform your orientation process, keep your team aligned, and make every new employee feel at home from day one.
What Are Onboarding Videos?
Onboarding videos are a specialized category of employee training videos created to guide new hires through the critical first phase of their journey within a company. These videos are designed to introduce your organization’s culture, walk through key policies and processes, and equip new employees with the knowledge they need to succeed — all through engaging, bite-sized content.
As workplaces evolve to become more remote, dynamic, and distributed, companies are shifting away from outdated onboarding methods like static manuals and live presentations. Instead, they’re embracing video training for employee onboarding — offering a more scalable, consistent, and engaging way to train new team members.
And now, with the rise of automation, businesses are going a step further by using AI-powered training videos to streamline onboarding. These videos can be easily generated and personalized based on department, role, or location — saving time for HR teams while delivering a modern, on-demand learning experience for new hires.
Why Onboarding Videos Are Better Than Traditional Methods
Traditional employee onboarding methods, such as in-person sessions, printed manuals, or static slide decks, have long been the standard. However, these approaches often face challenges like inconsistency, lack of engagement, and difficulty in scaling across teams. Let’s explore how onboarding videos offer clear advantages over traditional methods:
1. Consistency Across Locations and Teams
In-person sessions and printed materials can lead to inconsistent training experiences, especially when different trainers or resources are involved. Videos, on the other hand, ensure that all new employees receive the same, standardized content, eliminating variations that might arise from different trainers or outdated materials. This consistency ensures that every new hire gets the same information, no matter where they are located.
For more insights on how to effectively implement video-based training in remote environments, check out our guide on How to Plan Video Training for Employees in a Remote Work Environment.
2. Interactive and Visual Learning Formats
Traditional training methods often involve passive learning, whether it’s reading manuals or watching long presentations. Videos bring a more dynamic approach by incorporating visuals, animations, and real-world examples, which can make the content more engaging. This interactive format makes it easier for new hires to absorb and retain important information, improving their overall learning experience.
3. Flexibility and Convinience
One of the challenges with traditional methods is the need for scheduled sessions that may not be convenient for all employees. Video-based training allows new hires to learn at their own pace, watching materials whenever it fits into their schedules. This flexibility is particularly valuable for remote teams or employees who might be working across different time zones.
4. Easy to Update and Maintain
Printed materials and slide decks often need to be updated regularly, which can be a time-consuming process. Videos, however, are much easier to revise and distribute. Whether it's updating a company policy or introducing new procedures, changes can be made quickly and seamlessly, ensuring that all employees have access to the latest, most relevant content without the hassle of reprinting or rescheduling. Editing is especially easy when you're using a reliable video training tool like WowTo, where any change in the video's visuals or voiceover can be made with just a few clicks, streamlining the entire process.
5. Scalable Training for Growing Teams
As companies grow, the demands of traditional training methods — such as in-person sessions — can become overwhelming. With video content, businesses can scale their training programs easily, reaching a large number of employees simultaneously without the need for extra resources or coordination. This makes it possible to provide consistent training to a growing workforce without adding complexity.
6. Cost and Time Efficiency
Traditional methods often require substantial time and financial investment, whether it’s for printing materials, coordinating live sessions, or organizing in-person training. Videos reduce these costs by eliminating the need for physical materials and allowing training to be delivered remotely. Once created, videos can be reused and updated at a fraction of the cost, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective training solution.
Types of Onboarding Videos You Can Create
When a new hire joins your company, everything feels new — the culture, the tools, the team, and their specific role. It’s not just about understanding company policies or processes, but also about getting clarity on what’s expected from them and how they fit into the bigger picture.
That’s where different types of onboarding videos come in. Instead of overwhelming new employees with long documents or dense presentations, you can guide them through their journey with short, purpose-driven videos — each designed to address a key stage or focus area in the onboarding process. Here's a breakdown of the most useful types you can create:
1. Welcome and Introduction Videos
The first few moments of onboarding are all about setting the tone — and a warm, well-crafted welcome video does just that. These videos typically feature company leaders or HR team members introducing the organization's mission, core values, and workplace culture. More than just an overview, they create a sense of belonging, helping new hires feel appreciated, inspired, and connected to the bigger purpose from day one.
2. Company Overview and History Videos
New hires often want to know the story behind where they’ve landed. These videos provide a narrative of the company’s journey — from its founding to major milestones and future goals. By sharing the “why” behind the business, including key achievements and challenges overcome, you help employees connect emotionally with the company’s purpose and feel more invested in its mission moving forward.
3. Role-Specific Training Videos
Every role comes with its own set of responsibilities, tools, and workflows — and that’s where role-specific training videos come in. These videos focus on the day-to-day tasks new hires will handle, offering clear guidance on tools, systems, and processes relevant to their position. From software walkthroughs to team protocols, this content helps employees ramp up faster and perform with confidence from the start.
4. HR Policies and Procedures Videos
Instead of handing over stacks of documents, companies can use videos to walk new hires through essential HR information in a clear, digestible way. These videos cover topics like benefits enrollment, leave policies, workplace conduct, and other operational procedures — helping employees understand the rules and resources available to them without feeling overwhelmed.
5. Technical and Software Training Videos
Getting up to speed with the right tools is key to early success. These videos walk new hires through the software, platforms, and systems they’ll be using regularly — from how to log in to navigating internal dashboards or workflows. Clear, step-by-step video tutorials reduce confusion, boost confidence, and save time for both employees and managers.
👉 Learn how to create effective software training videos in 4 simple steps
6. Health, Safety, and Compliance Videos
These videos help new employees stay informed and protected by outlining essential health, safety, and regulatory guidelines. Whether it’s emergency procedures, workplace conduct, or industry-specific compliance protocols, video training ensures that critical information is delivered clearly and consistently — minimizing risk and reinforcing accountability from day one.
Best Practices for Delivering Onboarding Video Training
Creating effective onboarding videos is just one part of the equation — delivering them in a way that maximizes engagement and learning outcomes is equally important. By following best practices, you can ensure that your video training is not only informative but also effective in helping new hires feel welcomed, prepared, and motivated. Here are some essential tips to make your onboarding videos impactful:
Keep Videos Short and Engaging
Attention spans can be short, especially when dealing with information overload. Break up content into short, digestible videos (3-5 minutes each) to keep new hires engaged and avoid overwhelming them with too much information at once. Incorporate engaging visuals, real-life examples, and even light humor to maintain interest.
Provide Clear and Concise Information
Your videos should be direct and to the point. Avoid jargon or unnecessary details that could confuse or bore viewers. Focus on delivering the most essential information in a clear, easy-to-understand format. Using simple language will ensure that everyone, regardless of their experience, grasps the key points.
Embed Videos in an LMS, or Knowledge Base
Hosting your training videos within a Learning Management System (LMS), or a comprehensive internal knowledge base centralizes the training process, making it easy for new hires to access and track their progress. This ensures that all necessary content is in one place, allowing employees to revisit training materials as needed.
With WowTo, you can not only create engaging onboarding videos but also host them on a user-friendly knowledge base platform. This platform simplifies video management, making it easier to organize, track, and streamline your onboarding process, all in one place.
For more on organizing and optimizing training content, check out our How to Create an Effective Internal Knowledge Base
Deliver Content in a Structured Sequence
Organize your videos in a logical and clear sequence, starting with company overviews and gradually moving into more specific job-related content. A structured sequence helps new hires build a solid understanding of the company and their role, without feeling lost or overwhelmed by scattered information.
Track Viewer Engagement and Completion
Use analytics tools within video hosting platform to monitor engagement levels, video completion rates, and interactions. Tracking this data can give you valuable insights into how well your content is being absorbed and whether any areas need improvement or additional focus.
Personalize the Experience
Tailor onboarding videos to the specific role and department of each new hire. Personalized content ensures that employees receive the most relevant information for their job, helping them feel more connected and confident in their role from day one.
Encourage Social Interaction
To foster a sense of community, encourage new hires to engage with the content and their colleagues. Include team introductions and foster communication via internal platforms or live sessions where new employees can ask questions and interact with others.
The Future of Employee Onboarding Is Video-First
As the workplace continues to evolve, especially with the increasing presence of remote teams, video has emerged as the go-to medium for onboarding. It's not just a trend; it's the future. With Gen Z and Millennials becoming the dominant workforce, video is their preferred method of learning, making it an essential tool for engaging and training new hires.
The scalability of video onboarding also makes it an ideal solution for growing businesses. As organizations expand, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain consistent, personalized onboarding experiences. Video, however, allows companies to scale their training efforts without sacrificing quality or engagement.
