Workplace Storytelling

How to Recruit Employees to be in a Job Video

11/6/2018

Have you ever caught someone retelling your story? A story you experienced first hand and shared over drinks or the cubicle wall? Then, you walk into the company kitchen and overhear the story again. It’s never quite the same. They change the names or skip the parts you know are important to the big finale. “They’re not telling it right,” you say as you sit down to the table to clarify.

That’s the thing about telling a story. It will always be a little more authentic and true when it comes from you - the person experiencing it. And the same goes for your company’s story. There’s no one on this planet who can tell your company’s story better than your employees. Period. No world class actor, not even your colleague a few desks down. Your story is just that - yours.

As a talent leader, you’ve probably heard a few of those inspiring stories. You know the people at your company. You have those mini-vignettes playing in your mind of the hires with inspiring histories.

But here’s the catch.

People are busy and getting them to sit down on camera and tell your story isn’t always so easy. That’s just one of the many reasons people say “no” to recording. For one, a lot of people are camera shy and have a perfectionist’s plague; they don’t want to do anything they can’t be great at. Others worry about “saying it right” or that they won’t get the message across - that they won’t meet your companies’ brand standards.

With that said, there are a lot of ways you can make people more comfortable on camera. But there are also creative ways to get people to say “yes” in the first place!

Here are a few ideas for inviting your team to participate in filming a job video:

Hold a free company lunch where people can do quick convos with your team after they eat. Who doesn’t love free food?
Offer a gift card incentive as a thank you for people who tell their story.
Interview them on camera, don't use a script. Most feel more comfortable talking to a person instead of a screen.
Ask managers to recommend people and then tell those people they were recommended. The faith of their manager can give people confidence.
Let employees be on camera together rather than alone. The thought of being beside someone takes some pressure off.
Look towards your interns. They will be eager to learn, grow, and be a part of the team. Plus, video is probably a second language for them.
Invite them to help capture b-roll of their jobs on their phones. This is a great way to ease people into the idea of capturing what they do all day!
Help them know what to expect by sharing the *dorky* video below.

The story you tell is an important part of your company, and in turn, your job videos. No one knows your company’s story as well as your employees, making them the best people to turn to. It may seem tough to recruit employees to be in a job video, but our tips help ensure a “yes” from your employees when you ask.

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