Onboarding Videos That Actually Work: Engage, Educate, and Retain

Key takeaways

• Onboarding videos help with better retention, saving time and resources, and scalability.
• Great onboarding videos are authentic, culture-driven, and people-focused, making it easy for the audience to relate and connect with the content.
• Things that should be included in an onboarding video:
  • Overview of the company and its values
  • Team introductions
  • Benefits and growth opportunities
• For educational or company culture videos, a 3–6 minute duration is the sweet spot.

What is an onboarding video

Anyone who’s worked at a company has probably gone through the onboarding process. And let’s be honest, it’s not always the most pleasant experience. Not because the information isn’t important, or because we’re not excited to start a new job, but because it often feels like a lot of information gets dumped on you all at once. And, granted, it can be overwhelming.

Lately, we’ve had a growing number of clients and potential clients reach out about using onboarding videos to simplify the entire process. Interestingly, a great onboarding video does more than just deliver information — it helps new hires feel welcomed, confident, and aligned with the company culture from day one. It also makes it easier for them to digest the information without feeling overwhelmed.

It’s worth noting that onboarding isn’t just for new employees. In some cases, even bringing on new clients requires its own onboarding session. But in this blog, we’re focusing specifically on onboarding for new employees and how videos can make that experience smoother and more engaging.

Not only that, based on the requests we also finds out that a lot of company use onboarding videos to include not only introducing the company to the new hire but also:

• Introducing company culture and values
• Sharing a welcome message from leadership or peers
• Explaining company policies and benefits
• Giving a day-in-the-life look at the company

Why every company needs an onboarding video?

We've already written about how long your 2D animation should be. Take a look at "What Shorter Attention Spans Mean for 2D Animation Videos" for more detail. But when it comes to onboarding, videos work wonders for new hires. People tend to lose focus and struggle to remember things, especially when they are just starting at a new company. That’s where videos come in — they make the process clearer and more engaging.

Here’s why onboarding videos are awesome:

• Better retention: People remember what they see more than what they read.
• Saves time and resources: No need for endless meetings or back-and-forth with HR.
• Scalable: Works great for remote teams and businesses of all sizes.
• Boosts confidence: New hires feel ready and connected from day one.

Onboarding videos are a game-changer for remote teams, helping them feel like part of the company, even from afar. In fact, research from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) shows that using infographic and animated videos helps keep the audience engaged for longer periods during online learning or training, including onboarding sessions.

4 examples of great onboarding videos

Before we dive into the examples of great onboarding videos, let’s add a quick disclaimer: there’s more than one type of onboarding video. The examples we’re sharing here are just a few and don’t cover all the different types out there. Onboarding videos are often made for internal use only, and while these examples are excellent, they tend to be similar to one another since not many companies publicly share their onboarding videos.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get started.

1. Google intern’s first week

This Google intern onboarding video combines a human element, narrative storytelling, and visually engaging content to create a memorable experience for new hires. The video does an excellent job of showcasing how teams within Google collaborate and how they approach their work. It not only highlights the company's dynamic culture but also gives new hires a clear picture of what they can expect from their role or internship.

By weaving in personal stories and experiences from real employees, the video feels warm and relatable, creating an emotional connection with the viewer. It builds excitement for the new hire by showing the inclusive and innovative environment at Google, making them feel welcomed and eager to be part of the team.

2. Property finder: Corporate wellness

This project for Property Finder is one of our older but standout collaborations. During our partnership, we created over half a dozen corporate videos, including several onboarding videos. What makes this particular video unique is how we combined client-provided footage with our own motion design, resulting in a visually engaging and dynamic video. While the video doesn’t feature a script or someone addressing the camera directly, it still manages to effectively convey all the key information.

Through the creative use of motion graphics, we were able to explain how the company operates and showcase its culture in a way that feels fresh and engaging. The combination of live-action footage and animation keeps the viewer’s attention while delivering the message clearly and effectively — all without the need for traditional talking-head style presentations.

3. Zendesk - This is Zendesk

Zendesk’s onboarding video is a great example of how simple visuals and a friendly tone can effectively communicate company culture. What makes this video stand out is its versatility — it works well both as an onboarding video and a recruitment video. It combines stylized animated UI elements with real-life footage, giving viewers a clear look at the company’s operations and values.

The video uses a voiceover to guide the narrative, making the content feel personal and approachable. This blend of animation and live-action not only makes the video visually engaging but also enhances the delivery of key information about Zendesk’s culture, work environment, and what new hires or potential recruits can expect when joining the team. The friendly and straightforward approach helps to create a welcoming atmosphere, making it easy for viewers to connect with the company’s mission and values.

4. Intuit-Intuit’s Journey

Intuit’s onboarding video stands out with its CEO-led welcome message that not only builds trust but also inspires motivation. The video takes viewers through the journey of Intuit’s founder, explaining why the company was created in the first place. This narrative approach gives a personal touch to the story, showing how Intuit's values, culture, and work ethic were shaped from its beginnings.

By focusing on one individual and weaving the story into a clear, flowing narrative, the video makes complex information easy to follow. Viewers can connect with the message on a deeper level without feeling overwhelmed. The storytelling style makes it approachable, allowing new hires to understand the company’s mission, vision, and what it truly means to be part of Intuit’s team.

The common thread? Each video is authentic, culture-driven, and people-focused, making it easy for audience to relate and connect with the content.

So, what are the important information should be on an onboarding video?

Creating an onboarding video isn’t just about giving new hires the usual “welcome” spiel — it’s about helping them feel excited, informed, and ready to dive in. Here’s a quick checklist of what should be in your video to make sure it’s both effective and engaging:

Overview of the company and values

Start by giving them a sense of who you are as a company. What’s your mission? What are the core values that shape the way you work? This is a great chance to show why your company matters and how the new hire’s role fits into the bigger picture. Making your values clear right from the start helps them feel aligned with the company and understand what’s expected of them.

Team introductions

You don’t want new hires feeling like they’re stepping into a cold, unfamiliar world. Introducing the team — or at least key people they’ll be working with — helps break the ice. It’s a chance to show the human side of your company and give them a feel for the people they’ll be collaborating with. While not every onboarding video includes this, at the very least, it’s great to introduce important figures like the CEO and founders. Hearing from colleagues about their roles and what they love about working at the company makes everything feel a lot more personal.

Benefits and growth opportunities

Don’t forget to talk about what’s in it for them beyond just the work. Highlight any benefits, perks, or programs your company offers, like health insurance, flexible hours, or wellness initiatives. Even more importantly, talk about growth. Show them how they can advance, whether it’s through training programs, promotions, or opportunities to take on new challenges. Knowing they’ve got room to grow keeps them motivated and excited about the long-term future at your company.

A solid onboarding video that hits all these points not only helps new hires feel welcomed but also gives them the clarity they need to succeed. It sets the stage for their journey with your company, making them feel part of the team from day one and ready to hit the ground running.

What its the ideal length for onboarding video?

When it comes to onboarding videos, you want to keep your new hires engaged, right? The length of the video plays a big part in that. According to data from Wistia and other industry sources, here’s what you should keep in mind:

• How-to videos have the best retention, with viewers watching 82% of a video that's under one minute.
• For educational or company culture videos, 3–6 minutes is the sweet spot. It gives you enough time to cover important details without losing attention.

Before you jump into creating your onboarding video, ask yourself:

1. What do my viewers really need to know?
2. How can I make this information clear and engaging without dragging it out?

By keeping these questions in mind, you’ll create a video that’s both informative and fun to watch — and you won’t lose your audience halfway through!

Can Motion The Agency create onboarding video?

Yes, we’ve worked on plenty of corporate video projects, from training to recruitment and even onboarding videos. For example, with one of our subscription clients, Obrizum, we created onboarding videos not just for them, but also for their clients. We’re firm believers that to effectively communicate with the target audience, it’s important to simplify big ideas and key information. That’s exactly what we aim to do with our onboarding videos — making complex ideas easier to digest and more engaging.

Our approach may differ from some of the examples we’ve shared, as we combine motion design and human elements to make the information clearer and more engaging. With the animated aspects of our onboarding videos, it’s also easier for clients to repurpose or update the content in the future, keeping it fresh and relevant. Feel free to check out our corporate video service page to see how we can help you create impactful videos for your team.

If your company is interested in creating an onboarding video with us, book a call now and get your free onboarding video sample!

FAQ

Can Motion The Agency create onboarding videos?

Yes, we do! Motion The Agency creates engaging onboarding videos that simplify information and bring company culture to life. We’ve worked with brands like Obrizum and Property Finder, producing both internal and client-facing onboarding content. Our mix of motion design and human elements keeps videos clear, relatable, and easy to update whenever needed.

How can I make engaging training videos for employee onboarding?

To make your onboarding videos engaging, focus on:

• Storytelling: Use real employee stories and personal experiences to create an emotional connection.
• Visual appeal: Incorporate motion design, animations, and branding to make the content visually interesting.
• Clear structure: Break down complex information into easy-to-digest sections, and keep it concise.
• Call-to-action: End the video with a motivating message to make new hires excited and ready to contribute.

Why are onboarding videos important?

Onboarding videos make the process smoother and more effective. They help people remember information better through visuals, save time by cutting down on repetitive meetings, and work great for teams of any size — even remote ones. Most importantly, they help new hires feel confident, prepared, and connected to the company from day one.

What is an onboarding video?

An onboarding video is a modern, interactive tool that introduces new employees to essential company information. It covers everything from company culture and values to role expectations, providing a more engaging and memorable experience compared to traditional paperwork.