How To Make A Recruiting Video?

As hiring becomes more competitive, recruiting videos have emerged as an effective way for employers to highlight what sets them apart. Unlike traditional job postings, a recruiting video provides candidates with a more immersive glimpse into a company’s culture, values, and work environment.

If you’re unsure how much it might cost to produce one, tools like online estimators can offer clarity. For example, you can try Vidico’s video pricing quiz to receive a customized quote tailored to your specific needs and production goals. Whether you’re hiring for a startup or a large organization, a well-crafted recruiting video can help you connect with the right applicants while saving time in the recruitment process.

With that, we’ll outline the steps needed to create an effective recruiting video that aligns with your brand and attracts qualified candidates.

Plan the Key Message and Story Structure

Once the goal of the video is defined, the next step is to outline the key message and how you want to structure the story. Recruiting videos should focus on authenticity and relevance, and the content must reflect what your company offers.

A simple and effective structure might include:

1. Introduction – A quick overview of who your company is and what it does.
2. Culture and Environment – Show what it’s like to work at your company.
3. Employee Perspectives – Include short testimonials from different team members.
4. Open Roles or Career Pathways – Highlight the current opportunities available.
5. Call-to-Action – Encourage viewers to apply or learn more on your website.

Stick to a single theme or goal to maintain clarity and viewer engagement. A focused message tends to perform better and is easier for viewers to absorb.

Choose the Right Format and Length

The format and length of your video should reflect the viewing habits of your target audience. For instance, if you’re sharing the video on social media, shorter clips between 30 and 90 seconds may be more effective. For videos on your careers page or YouTube channel, longer content—up to 2–3 minutes—can work if the material remains engaging.

Common formats include:

• Culture Overview Videos – Highlight the overall work environment and team dynamic.
• Employee Spotlight Videos – Feature individuals sharing their roles and experiences.
• Office Tour Videos – Offer a walkthrough of your workplace.
• Position-Specific Videos – Center the video around a specific role and illustrate what it takes to excel in it

Match the video format to the viewing habits of users on each platform.

Write a Script or Interview Guide

A clear script or interview guide is essential for keeping your recruiting video focused. If your video includes voiceovers or narration, scripting it in advance ensures clarity and consistency. For employee testimonials or unscripted content, prepare interview questions that prompt natural and informative responses.

Sample questions for employees may include:

• What do you enjoy most about working here?
• What does a typical day look like in your role?
• How has your career developed since joining the company?
• What would you say to someone thinking about applying?

Keep the language conversational and avoid jargon unless it’s specific to the industry and understandable by your target audience.

Capture Footage That Reflects Your Brand

When filming your recruiting video, authenticity is more important than perfection. Use real employees, real workspaces, and actual events where possible. Show people collaborating, attending meetings, taking breaks, or engaging in company traditions. Lighting, sound quality, and framing should be professional but not overly polished. Viewers should get a sense of what it’s truly like to work at your company. If you’re working with a limited budget, even smartphone footage with good lighting can be effective when edited properly. Avoid using stock footage that feels disconnected from your company’s identity. Instead, focus on visuals that show your unique identity.

Edit for Clarity and Flow

Editing is where all the pieces come together. During this phase, aim to:

• Keep the pacing smooth and engaging
• Use text overlays or subtitles for accessibility
• Add your logo and brand colors subtly
• Include background music that complements the tone

Cut out any redundant or off-topic content to keep the video concise. Maintain visual and thematic consistency throughout. The final cut should align with the intended message and format discussed earlier. If you’re producing multiple videos for different roles or departments, consider creating a consistent intro or outro to unify your brand message across videos.

Include a Clear Call-to-Action

At the end of the video, make it easy for viewers to take the next step. Whether that’s visiting your careers page, submitting an application, or following your company on social media, the call-to-action should be simple and direct.

Examples of CTAs include:

• “Browse open positions and learn more about joining our team.”
• “Learn more about working with us at [your URL].”
• “Apply today and join our team.”

The CTA should match the goal you established at the beginning and reinforce the video’s purpose.

Final Thoughts

Creating a recruiting video is a strategic way to communicate your company’s values, culture, and opportunities to potential candidates. By defining a clear purpose, planning your message, capturing authentic footage, and sharing it through the right channels, you can build a powerful tool that enhances your recruitment process. When done thoughtfully, a recruiting video helps filter for better-fit candidates, reduces time-to-hire, and strengthens your employer brand in a way that traditional job descriptions cannot.