Let’s face it, attracting top talent is more competitive than ever, and candidates today aren’t just looking for a job. They’re looking for a real community and a story they can see themselves in. Employee testimonials bring that story to life, showcasing your team’s actual experiences and culture in a way that attracts the right people. From quick written quotes to heartfelt employee video testimonials, these insights give potential hires a glimpse into what makes your company unique, and they let customers see the people behind your brand.
In this guide, we’ll cover the types of employee testimonials, how they fit into the wider world of employee-generated content (EGC), actionable tips for gathering authentic feedback, the best places to showcase it, and how Vidlo makes collecting employee videos easier than ever.
What Are Employee Testimonials and Employee-Generated Content?
Employee testimonials are first-person statements from your team about what it’s like to work at your company: why they joined, how they’ve grown, and what they’d tell a friend considering a role.
Employee-generated content (EGC) is the broader category. It covers any content employees create about their work, workplace, or company: videos, photos, social posts, blog posts, or behind-the-scenes clips that showcase their roles, achievements, and company culture. A testimonial is one type of EGC; a team celebration video or a “day in my role” clip is another.
Both share the same advantage over traditional marketing content: they come directly from real people, which makes them relatable and trustworthy for candidates, customers, and your own team. In 2020, SanMar U ran an EGC campaign asking employees to photograph their bags and talk about what they kept inside, and called it “one of our most successful product-focused social media campaigns of 2020.”
Why Employee Testimonials and EGC Matter
▪️ Credibility with candidates: Job seekers trust current employees more than a careers page. Hearing a real person describe their day, their manager, and their growth answers questions a job description can’t.
▪️ Employer reputation: Candidates research companies on review sites like Indeed and Glassdoor and on LinkedIn before they apply. Video testimonials on your careers page and social profiles give them a positive, first-hand counterpoint to whatever they read elsewhere.
▪️ Reach: Employees’ personal networks are often larger and more engaged than your brand accounts. EveryoneSocial reports that employees have a 5x greater reach than corporate accounts, and PostBeyond reports that employee posts are reshared up to 24x more than branded posts.
▪️ Trust in your brand: When customers see employees speaking positively about where they work, they’re more inclined to buy. As PostBeyond puts it, when many people distrust messages coming directly from brands, putting a face to the name matters.
▪️ Culture and engagement: Inviting employees to share their stories makes them feel heard and celebrated, which strengthens engagement and company culture from the inside.
Types of Employee Testimonials
Employee testimonials come in all shapes. Here’s a look at the main formats and what each brings to recruitment and culture.
Written vs. Video Testimonials
▪️ Written testimonials: Quick, easy, and to the point. Written testimonials are low-cost and low-fuss, which is great on a tight deadline. However, they lack the emotional resonance that video brings.
▪️ Video testimonials: When it comes to impact, video is the way to go. Seeing someone’s facial expressions, hearing their voice, and noticing their enthusiasm leaves a lasting impression. An employee video testimonial turns a general description into an emotional connection.
Formal vs. Casual Testimonials
▪️ Formal testimonials: Polished and structured, these often focus on professional development, company values, and job satisfaction. They’re ideal for LinkedIn and your “About Us” or careers page, and they appeal to experienced and senior-level talent.
▪️ Casual testimonials: These feel like friendly chats, where employees share their day-to-day lives or funny stories. Shot in a less formal setting, they offer an inside look at the office vibe and are ideal for attracting early-career candidates who prioritize culture.
Employee-Generated Video Ideas Beyond the Classic Testimonial
Not every piece of employee content has to be a sit-down testimonial. These employee-generated video ideas keep your content fresh and give employees more ways to participate:
▪️ Monthly check-ins: Short videos where employees share how they feel about their work. Beyond content, this helps you understand how your team is doing and where you can support them.
▪️ Project celebrations: At the end of a project, the team records a quick video celebrating the result, individually or together.
▪️ Growth stories: Employees talk about skills they’ve built and how they’ve grown professionally in their role.
▪️ Team-building moments: Clips captured during team events show the fun, human side of your workplace.
▪️ Professional events: Content from conferences, workshops, or internal learning events supports both your employer brand and employees’ own professional profiles.
▪️ Charity and volunteering: Employees share their experience at a charity event and what the cause means to them.
How to Plan Your Employee Testimonial and EGC Program
A successful employee content program doesn’t happen by chance. It needs clear planning and alignment with your company’s goals.
1. Define your goals: Are you trying to recruit top talent, strengthen your employer reputation, boost brand awareness, or build internal culture? Your goal determines what you ask employees to create and where you’ll use it.
2. Set clear guidelines: Give employees simple instructions on the type of content you want, how long it should be, and what topics to avoid. With Vidlo, you can create a campaign, add a prompt, and collect every submission in one dashboard.
3. Make participation optional and rewarding: Frame EGC as a collaborative, fun activity rather than an obligation. Shout-outs, spotlights, and friendly contests (for example, a team vote on the most creative video) give people a reason to join in.
4. Get consent: Before you publish an employee’s video on your website, social channels, or ads, make sure you have their permission for those specific uses.
How to Collect Employee Testimonials
Getting people to talk about their workplace experiences on camera can be tricky. With the right approach, you can gather testimonials that feel natural and authentic.
Best Practices for Requesting Testimonials
1. Pick the right moments: Timing is everything. Ask for testimonials after a recent success, like a completed project or a promotion. That’s when employees are most likely to feel positive and engaged.
2. Share the why: Let employees know how their story could help the company grow. When people understand that their insights could bring in new colleagues, they’re more likely to open up and give genuine responses.
3. Keep it short and easy: A 30–60 second video recorded on a phone is far more likely to happen than a scheduled studio shoot.
Employee Testimonial Questions to Ask
High-quality testimonials start with the right questions. Try these prompts to bring out unique, relatable stories:
▪️ “What do you love most about your role here?”
▪️ “How has the company supported your growth?”
▪️ “What’s a memorable experience you’ve had with your team?”
▪️ “What surprised you most after you joined?”
▪️ “If you were recommending us to a friend, what would you say?”
Open-ended questions give employees room to share stories, which are far more memorable than generic statements. For more ideas, see our guide to testimonial questions that get high-quality responses.
Employee Testimonial Examples
Here are examples of employee video testimonials that convey real experiences and resonate with audiences. Each one shares a personal story while working as a recruiting tool.
▪️ Trinchero Family Estates (What makes us special?)
▪️ FabFitFun (What do you love most about the work culture?)
▪️ Zero Latency Houston (What’s your favorite game?)
▪️ Motorola (What makes us an exciting place to work?)
▪️ All American Title Company (Why do you love this job?)
Where to Showcase Employee Testimonials
Great testimonials only work if they’re seen. Here are the best places to put them in front of potential hires and customers.
1. Your careers page: This is where candidates go to learn about your company, so make it count. Video testimonials from employees describing their experience make your company stand out.
2. LinkedIn and other social platforms: Post short employee videos on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, and encourage employees to share them with their own networks. Social algorithms often favor video, which means better engagement.
3. Job listings and employer profiles: A testimonial in a job description or on your employer profile pages gives candidates a personal glimpse of the company before they apply.
4. Employee spotlights: A weekly or monthly spotlight on your company’s social channels celebrates individual employees and builds a supportive culture.
5. Advertising: With employees’ permission, EGC of team members using and enjoying your product can turn them into authentic brand advocates in your ads.
How to Integrate Testimonials into Recruitment Materials
▪️ Recruitment emails: A short quote or video link in follow-up emails keeps applicants excited after they apply.
▪️ Virtual career fairs and events: Show video testimonials during presentations to add credibility and personality.
▪️ Onboarding materials: Testimonials in onboarding give new hires a deeper connection to the company culture from day one.
Using Vidlo for Employee Video Testimonials
Collecting authentic employee video testimonials can feel like a big task, but Vidlo simplifies it by letting employees record their stories directly from their phones or laptops, with no app and no login.
Benefits of Video Testimonials
Video testimonials have the edge when it comes to impact. They offer a dynamic, authentic view into the company, letting potential hires see and hear from real employees, which builds trust quickly. Video also sticks: people are more likely to remember what they’ve seen and heard than what they’ve read.
How Vidlo Simplifies the Collection Process
▪️ Easy access with QR codes and links: Each Vidlo campaign has its own link and QR code, so employees can start recording with a single scan or tap, including remote team members.
▪️ Customizable prompts: Built-in prompts guide employees on what to talk about without making them feel rehearsed. The result is testimonials that feel natural and genuine.
▪️ Consent built in: Consent is captured when the video is submitted, so you know how each video can be used before you publish it.
▪️ Effortless organization: Vidlo stores and organizes every video in one place, so you can find the right testimonial whenever you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is employee-generated content?
Employee-generated content (EGC) is any content employees create about their work, workplace, or company, such as videos, photos, social posts, or blog posts. Employee testimonials are one of the most valuable types of EGC because they speak directly to candidates and customers.
What is an employee video testimonial?
An employee video testimonial is a short video in which a team member describes their experience working at a company: their role, growth, culture, and why they’d recommend it. Companies use them on careers pages, LinkedIn, job listings, and recruiting emails.
How can video testimonials improve employer reputation?
Candidates check review sites like Indeed and Glassdoor before they apply. Employee video testimonials give them an authentic, first-hand view of your culture on your own channels, which builds trust and balances what they read elsewhere. Sharing them on LinkedIn and in job listings puts that proof where candidates are already looking.
How long should an employee testimonial video be?
For social media and job listings, 30–60 seconds is usually enough. Longer formats (two to three minutes) work well on a careers page when you want to tell a fuller story.
Conclusion
Employee testimonials and employee-generated content add a human element to recruiting and to your brand. Video takes that impact further by giving candidates and customers an inside look at your team’s culture. By asking the right questions, choosing the right moments, getting consent, and placing testimonials where people will see them, you can build an employer brand that speaks directly to your ideal hires.
Ready to start collecting employee video testimonials? Launch your first Vidlo campaign in minutes.
