Videos are almost a must in the digital onboarding of new employees! After all, it has been known for years that videos significantly facilitate learning. Therefore, we introduce you to three particularly effective video formats that you should use in the digital onboarding of new employees:
The onboarding of new employees is especially challenging in the current times. In many companies, most employees are working from home, which is why the onboarding of new employees mainly takes place digitally. But don't worry! Even completely digital blended onboarding can be fun and is just as efficient as in-person at the office. Just a reminder:
Live sessions + online course = blended onboarding
With different video formats, digital onboarding works particularly well: videos increase motivation to learn as well as learning success. In this article, we will show you three video formats that are particularly suitable for online integration in onboarding:
A brief excursion to start: General tips for video shooting
Is the topic of video shooting for online courses completely new territory for you? Then we have some helpful reading tips for you in advance:
Here's how to overcome your shyness in front of the camera
Affordable equipment for high-quality videos with your smartphone
Create and edit good videos on your smartphone
The rule of thumb for good videos in online courses is:
Less is more: One core message per video is enough!
Keep it brief: Videos under 3 minutes are optimal!
Explain things simply: Aim for clear language!
1. Welcome videos in digital onboarding
New employees need to find their bearings and usually know only a few colleagues from the interview. Therefore, it is all the more important to get to know the new colleagues and the company well. After all, your new employees should identify with your company and feel comfortable in their workplace. Here are some ideas for welcome videos:
Welcome new employees at the beginning of the course with a personal video message and explain the processes of the upcoming weeks in blended onboarding.
Ask your colleagues to also shoot a short selfie video to introduce themselves. Especially managers and direct team members should take a few minutes for this.
In some companies, new employees start directly from home and never get to know the office in person. Therefore, do a virtual company tour and show the most important places in the office or on the premises.
The company history should also be interesting for new employees. Briefly introduce it as well or, ideally, have it presented directly by one of the founders or the managing director!
Tip: Create a recognition value in your videos! For example, you can pass a virtual microphone during the colleague introductions or incorporate the company logo. You’re sure to come up with creative ideas that make your welcome engaging!
2. Explanation videos for onboarding in home office
Of course, onboarding is not just about getting to know the new work environment. New employees also need to learn the internal processes and the fundamentals of their own work.
Work processes, for example on machines, can be perfectly integrated as explanation videos. Please ask an expert from your team to demonstrate the processes for specific topics.
For content explanations, short animation videos or sketchnotes can be helpful. For example, you can film yourself as you sketch processes and explain them at the same time.
Tasks, such as conducting a sales conversation, can be acted out with the help of your colleagues and thus simulated.
Tip: Explanation videos can quickly become dry and boring. If it fits, try to narrate the content as a story. In storytelling during onboarding, you can explain processes with the help of fictional characters or a narrative. Your new employees will definitely remember this!
3. Screencast for digital onboarding
In particular, technical work processes are often difficult to explain. For new colleagues to understand them, they should see the processes “live”. This is where screencasts come in handy:
Screencasts are suitable for showing software and click paths directly in the application, so new employees can follow along directly.
You can also record lectures and presentations as screencasts: Simply conduct your presentation at your computer and record your screen and sound.
Tip: Detailed information on the topic of screencasts, including example videos and helpful tools, can be found here: How to create screencasts for your online courses.
