Finding skilled workers these days feels tougher than ever.
Whether you’re running a lean startup or managing a big corporation, the talent shortage is real.
I’ve seen many companies pour time and money into hiring, only to realize their job posts barely make a ripple.
That’s why I’m such a big believer in recruitment videos.
In this video-first era, they can be an effective tool to attract people who get your brand.
A great video can do what words on a job board can’t, like making candidates feel your culture, your energy, and your story.
I’ve rounded up 10 of the best recruitment videos that caught my attention (and hopefully your future candidates’ too).
These examples will help you see what works, what to borrow, and how to make your own hiring campaign stand out.
Why Recruitment Videos Work
When done right, a recruitment video grabs attention in seconds. It gives candidates a glimpse of what it’s like to work with you, not through corporate jargon, but through authentic storytelling. It helps you build an emotional connection and, yes, boosts your application rate.
So it’s no surprise that more and more companies are turning to recruitment videos to tell their story, showcase their culture, and spark real interest from top talent.
Now, you might be wondering, “Okay, but what makes recruitment videos so effective?”
Let’s break down the five key reasons why they work so well.
You Reach a Larger Audience
According to recent data, around 92% of mobile internet users share videos on their social networks.
Even better, videos generate over 1,200% more shares than text and images combined.
That’s a massive opportunity if you’re looking to get your job openings in front of more eyes.
When you post a recruitment video, you’re tapping into a wider audience of potential candidates who may not even be looking yet, but could be drawn in by your story.
In a nutshell, videos help your brand travel further and faster.
You Stay Competitive
Today’s job market is candidate-driven. Talented people have choices, lots of them.
So if you want to attract the best, your recruitment campaign can’t afford to look like everyone else’s.
That’s where video gives you an edge. It’s a powerful way to showcase your company culture, values, and personality, the things that really set you apart.
Research from CareerBuilder found that job postings with a recruitment video get 12% more views than text-only ones.
In a crowded job market, that extra visibility can make all the difference.
You Appeal to Newer Generations
Believe it or not, most millennials or Gen Z live, learn, and make career decisions online.
Platforms like YouTube, now the world’s second-largest search engine, play a big role in how younger generations explore companies and opportunities.
In fact, more than 40% of them say they use YouTube to research potential employers before applying.
That means your recruitment video can be a powerful tool to meet young talent where they already are.
You Save Money
A lot of people assume video production automatically means higher costs, but in reality, it can actually save you money in the long run.
The key isn’t how big your budget is but how clearly you communicate your message.
You don’t need a million-dollar setup to create an effective recruitment video.
What really matters is how authentic and engaging your story feels to potential candidates.
Even a simple, well-scripted video can outperform a high-budget campaign if it connects on a human level.
Plus, videos are incredibly easy to share across platforms, from LinkedIn and YouTube to your careers page, and even email.
That kind of flexibility gives your campaign ongoing visibility without the need to constantly pay for new ads or listings.
So instead of thinking of video as an expense, see it as a smart investment that keeps working for you.
You Find a Fit Candidate
The beauty of recruitment videos is that they don’t just bring in more candidates, but also help you attract the right ones.
When people see your company culture, your workspace, and the kind of energy your team has, they can quickly tell if they’d fit in. That alone saves both sides a lot of time.
That broader reach means more options, and a higher chance of finding someone who’s not just qualified, but genuinely aligned with your company’s values and way of working.
So, recruitment videos help filter out mismatches early and pull in people who already get what your brand stands for.
Top 10 Recruitment Video Examples for Modern Hiring
Now that you know why recruitment videos work, let’s take a look at some of the companies that have truly nailed it
I’ve rounded up a list of the best recruitment videos, where each one tells a story and captures a unique company culture.
As you go through these examples, pay attention to how each brand communicates its personality, values, and work environment.
You’ll see that there’s no single formula, just smart storytelling, authenticity, and a clear understanding of who they want to attract.
1. Google
As the world’s largest search engine company, Google creates a recruitment video that doesn’t show them as a prestigious corporation but as a family-like community.
This recruitment video tells you what it is like to work at the office and build your second family.
From watching this video, you’d be able to tell yourself whether you’re the candidate they’re searching for or not.
2. Apple
Apple, one of the biggest technology companies, highlights its uniqueness from other companies by showcasing its innovative and forward-facing workflow.
This recruitment video shows that they’re experts at whatever they do, convincing only the savvy to apply.
3. Dropbox
This interesting recruitment video by Dropbox shows you that you don’t need to be all serious in telling your company profile.
With muppet-inspired dolls as characters, Dropbox shows its work culture by highlighting its employees’ experience at work and how they come together as a team.
4. Zendesk
Zendesk is a customer service software company based in San Francisco.
In its recruitment video, Zendesk pokes fun at the shots of fancy offices, the teams, the CEO, and even the Golden Gate Bridge.
With a fun, story-driven script, this recruitment video seamlessly shows Zendesk’s unique perks and work culture through an exclusive brand of offbeat humor.
5. Hubspot
Even though it still relies on traditional talking-head videos, HubSpot tells you the perks you can get while working at its office, like unlimited vacation, games, a no-door policy, free snacks, and more.
It also gives you details of how the work environment can push your potential so that you can work effectively shoulder-to-shoulder with the team.
By highlighting the unique perks of the office, this kind of recruitment video can spark potential candidates’ interest in applying.
6. Starbucks
A well-known coffee company, Starbucks, created its first recruitment video in 2012 by highlighting its interns’ experiences.
Backed by inviting background music and clips of exciting documentaries, this type of recruitment video is enticing for fresh graduates to start their early careers at Starbucks.
7. Shopify
This recruitment video made by Glassdoor definitely does the job of making Shopify look like a fantastic place to work.
It also shows the office perks by asking some of the employees about what they like about working in the company.
With their honest, informal, and unscripted opinions, this recruitment video did it right in convincing more potential candidates to apply.
8. Facebook
As one of the juggernaut companies, Facebook creates its recruitment video with an inspiring narration supported by uplifting background music.
This entire recruitment video is most likely created to encourage potential candidates to join the team without second-guessing themselves too much.
In this way, the candidates feel most welcome and get more confident to apply.
9. Intel
Sometimes you need to exaggerate things to be remembered —like what Intel just did with its recruitment video.
Only within 30 seconds (with a lot of slow-motion scenes), you can tell that joining the company gives you a massive opportunity to work with famous investors like Ajay Bhatt, a co-inventor of USB.
10. IKEA
This Ikea recruitment video is an excellent example of a simple, effortless, yet compelling recruitment video.
Even with no voice-over, IKEA points out its uniqueness in running a recruitment campaign.
By inserting the career instructions into every IKEA flat pack (so that the customer can deliver it for themselves or their family and friends), the company spends zero dollars on media promotion and reaches more than 4,000 applications.
Create Your First Recruitment Video
A great recruitment video can both attract candidates and strengthen your company’s image.
I’ve seen companies completely transform their hiring outcomes just by tweaking how they present themselves on video.
So, if you’re planning your next recruitment video and want to make sure it truly connects, here are five practical tips to help you craft something engaging, memorable, and perfectly aligned with your brand.
#1. Highlight Questions That Matter
One of the most effective ways to make your recruitment video engaging is by addressing the questions candidates are already asking.
I always start every project by putting myself in the viewer’s shoes.
“What would I want to know if I were considering joining this company?
Think about questions like:
- What qualities are you looking for in candidates?
- What can your company offer them in return?
- What’s it really like to work at your company?
- And, most importantly, how can they apply?
When you build your video around these key questions, you’re giving information and building trust.
I’ve found that clarity like this helps potential candidates quickly understand whether they align with the company’s values and expectations.
And that means fewer mismatched applicants and a stronger overall hiring pool.
#2. Keep Your Video Short and Focused
The most successful recruitment videos are concise, focused, and clear about what makes the company stand out.
Aim to get your message across in under two minutes.
Highlight your values, goals, and workplace culture, but keep every second intentional.
When I help clients craft recruitment videos, we always focus on answering the viewer’s biggest question: “Is this job right for me?”
That clarity is what keeps people watching and applying.
#3. Keep It Genuine and Fun
The best recruitment videos feel personal and natural, not overly scripted.
Talk to the camera as if you’re talking to an old friend. That tone immediately makes candidates feel welcome.
In our projects, I’ve seen how small moments, like showing team interactions, real workspaces, or behind-the-scenes snippets, can make a huge difference.
They show the human side of your company.
And above all, keep it honest. A recruitment video sets expectations.
What candidates see should reflect the real experience of working with you.
That’s how you attract people who genuinely want to be part of your team, and keep them once they join.
#4. Promote Extensively
Creating a great recruitment video is only half the job.
I always tell clients that promotion is where your effort pays off.
The more eyes on your video, the better your chances of finding that perfect-fit hire.
Share your recruitment video across platforms where your target candidates already spend time.
LinkedIn and Facebook are fantastic starting points, but don’t overlook your company website, career pages, and even internal channels like email newsletters.
When we help businesses launch recruitment campaigns, we focus on maximizing visibility across multiple touchpoints.
The goal is beyond getting clicks, but to create meaningful impressions that attract the right kind of attention from people who align with your values and goals.
#5. Include a Call-to-Action
I always emphasize in every video project we produce: never leave your viewers guessing what to do next.
A strong call-to-action (CTA) guides candidates toward the next step, whether it’s applying for the position, visiting your careers page, or learning more about your team.
You can add it verbally at the end of the video, show it on-screen, or include it in your post caption.
The important part is that it’s visible and clear.
After all, your video has done the heavy lifting. Now it’s time to turn that engagement into real applications.
Create a Representation of Your Company Culture
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from creating recruitment videos, it’s that the most effective ones don’t just talk about job openings, but they show what it feels like to belong.
Your company culture is the heartbeat of your video. It’s what turns viewers into applicants, and applicants into believers.
A recruitment video is your chance to give people a genuine glimpse of what life inside your company looks like.
Show the laughter between teams, the small victories, and the shared energy that make your workplace unique.
Those human moments build emotional connection far more than any list of benefits ever could.
In a way, attracting employees isn’t so different from attracting customers.
Both groups need to understand your story and see themselves in it.
When candidates feel that emotional spark, they’re not just applying for a job; they’re choosing to be part of something they believe in.
Mini FAQs About Recruitment Videos
1. Why are recruitment videos so effective?
Because they make your company real. People want to see your culture, hear it, and feel it. A recruitment video gives potential candidates a glimpse of the people behind the brand and what it’s actually like to work there. It turns a static job post into an emotional story.
2. How is a recruitment video different from an explainer video?
They share the same storytelling DNA. While explainer videos simplify complex ideas for customers, recruitment videos help candidates understand your company’s story and what it stands for.
In both cases, the goal is to connect with people emotionally and clearly communicate value. That’s why our experience in crafting explainer videos often translates seamlessly into creating powerful recruitment videos that inform and inspire.
3. How long should a recruitment video be?
From my experience, the sweet spot is between 60 and 120 seconds. That’s enough time to show your company culture and highlight key points without losing your audience’s attention. Remember, short and focused almost always wins.
4. What kind of content works best in a recruitment video?
Authenticity always wins. Show real employees, genuine moments, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your workplace. Candidates connect best with real stories, not staged perfection. When viewers see your team’s energy and values come through naturally, it builds trust instantly.
5. How do I measure if my recruitment video is successful?
Look beyond views. Track metrics such as engagement rate, applications received, and candidate quality. If you notice that applicants mention your video during interviews or that your hiring funnel becomes more efficient, that’s a strong sign your content is doing its job.
At Breadnbeyond, we can help you create an eye-catching recruitment video for your company, and get more top-talent applications!
Check our packages on the banner below and get a FREE consultation.
Not sure about the budget? Use our video cost calculator to find out in seconds.
