Starting a new job can feel overwhelming, but a well-crafted induction video can help new hires feel welcomed, informed and excited to be part of your team. The key? Understanding your audience and focusing on what truly matters to them.

At Channel 1 Creative Media, we’ve spent over 35 years producing induction programs for businesses of all sizes. Along the way, we’ve gathered insights from hundreds of clients on how to make induction videos more engaging. From personalised welcome messages sent before day one to bite-sized training videos that keep employees engaged beyond induction, the best approaches go beyond delivering information—they create a sense of belonging.

Whether you’re creating a new induction video or refreshing an existing one, this guide will show you how to make it more welcoming, impactful and memorable.

How to Make Induction Videos More Welcoming for New Hires: A Quick Overview

Here are key ways to make your induction videos feel more welcoming:

• Know your audience and address their WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?) mindset
• Send a welcome video before their first day
• Include leadership messages to create connection
• Highlight company culture, values and mission early on
• Feature real employees in the videos
• Break content into short, digestible segments
• Keep the tone friendly and conversational
• Tailor content for different roles (e.g., visitors vs. employees)

Let’s explore these strategies in more detail.

Start with WIIFM: Know What New Hires Really Care About

One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is treating induction videos like compliance checklists. While procedures and policies are important, new employees are most interested in how the company will support them.

Key questions to address:

• What does the company stand for?
• What kind of work culture can they expect?
• How will they be supported in their new role?
• Who can they turn to if they need help?

By answering these questions early, you demonstrate that you understand your new hires’ needs and concerns.

Create a Pre-Start Welcome Video

First impressions count, and your induction program doesn’t have to wait until day one. One of the most effective ways to make new hires feel welcomed is to send them a personalised welcome video before they even start.

What to include in a pre-start video:

• A message from the CEO or managing director
• A short company history
• An introduction to company values and key focus areas (e.g., customer service, innovation)
• A warm ‘We’re excited to have you onboard’ message

This small step helps reduce first-day nerves and creates a positive emotional connection before they even walk through the door.

Involve Leadership to Set the Tone

Featuring leadership in your induction video helps create a sense of trust and accessibility. When new hires see leaders speaking directly to them, it reinforces the idea that they are valued members of the team.

Leadership content ideas:

• Welcome message from executives
• Leaders sharing why they believe in the company mission
• A message of encouragement and support for new starters

Keep these messages authentic and avoid overly scripted or corporate-sounding dialogue.

Bring Culture and Values to Life

Culture isn’t something you just list—it’s something you show. Including scenes of your team in action helps bring your values to life.

Ideas for showcasing culture:

• Behind-the-scenes clips of team collaboration
• Staff celebrating milestones or events
• Footage from community projects or client success stories
• Interviews with team members talking about what they love about the company

These real-world visuals provide context and help new hires feel like they’re joining a community, not just a workplace.

Let Employees Tell the Story

Want your induction video to feel genuine? Let real employees introduce sections or share insights.

We recently worked with a trades and services company in NSW who embraced this idea. They had their warehouse workers introduce each topic in the induction program, and it worked brilliantly. Engagement levels exceeded expectations, and new hires felt an instant connection to their team.

Benefits of employee involvement:

• Builds relatability and trust
• Humanises the information being delivered
• Provides insight into real experiences on the job

Just make sure the messaging is clear and edited for consistency.

Break Content into Short, Modular Segments

No one wants to sit through a 40-minute video on day one. Consider breaking your induction into bite-sized modules, each focusing on a single topic.

Examples of modules:

• Workplace tour
• Health and safety overview
• Meet the team
• HR policies and expectations
• Day-to-day tools and procedures

For example, one of our clients split their induction into nine 2-minute videos. These mini-segments not only helped with engagement but also doubled as refresher tools for toolbox talks and future training.

Use a Friendly, Conversational Tone

The tone of your induction video should reflect how you’d speak to someone on their first day—welcoming, warm and easy to understand.

How to strike the right tone:

• Use clear, jargon-free language
• Speak directly to the viewer (e.g., ‘Welcome to the team!’ instead of ‘The employee will…’)
• Include music that matches the mood of your message

You can still be professional without sounding robotic. The goal is to make the new hire feel included, not overwhelmed.

Create Tailored Experiences for Different Audiences

Your induction video isn’t just for employees. Contractors, visitors and remote staff may also need specific onboarding content.

Example: Instead of showing all visitors a full 40-minute employee induction, create a short 5-minute version covering only essential safety and access information.

This saves time and ensures that every audience receives only the information relevant to them.

Build for the Long-Term

Finally, think about the longevity of your video. Avoid including details that may quickly become outdated, such as specific staff or software platforms.

Tips for longer shelf life:

• Focus on evergreen content like mission, safety basics and culture
• Avoid dated visuals or seasonal references
• Create a plan to regularly review and update segments

Modular videos make this process easier, allowing you to swap out or update only the necessary parts over time.

Ready to Create a Welcoming Induction Video That Leaves a Lasting Impression?

At Channel 1 Creative Media, we understand that a well-crafted induction video can do more than just inform—it can inspire. With decades of experience creating onboarding content for leading organisations across Australia, we know what it takes to make new hires feel right at home. Whether you need a full induction suite or a short welcome video, we offer end-to-end services from concept and scriptwriting to production and editing.Call us today on 0387430488 or visit our Contact Us page to discuss how we can help you welcome your newest team members with confidence, clarity and care.