10 Effective Employee Testimonials Examples to Attract Top Talent

Getting the best talent on board is challenging for recruiters due to excessive competition and lack of reliable talent in the market. Candidates want to ensure that the company hiring them is a reliable place to work, has a friendly work environment, competitive pay, and ample growth opportunities.

Employee testimonials are a great way to highlight your organization’s value offering and show a glimpse of what it’s like to work there. Through employee testimonials, potential candidates can see how the work culture is and are employees happy there. As per Jobylon, 79% of job seekers consider employer reputation before applying for a job, and employee testimonials are undeniably a great way to improve that. By highlighting the positive experiences of your employees, you can attract the best candidates and enjoy a credible reputation in the industry.  If you are planning to put together a plan and looking for some examples to start leveraging employee testimonials to your advantage, you have come to the right place. In this blog, we will explore effective employee testimonials examples to attract top talent and retain it.

Types of Employee Testimonials

An employee testimonial is a piece of content that highlights your employee’s opinions and stories about what it’s like to work at your organization and its culture. Employee testimonials can have information such as what employees like about their job or company, how they spend their day at the office, what kind of activities happen in the office, about its culture, etc.

There are multiple forms of employee testimonials that we will understand below:

Written Testimonials

This type of testimonial is in the form of a blog post or article, that allows an in-depth look into an employee’s experience at the company. These are quick to execute and easy to relate. It can contain details about the employee’s role, responsibilities, support, training, or things they like most about working there. Example: Starbucks

Video Testimonials

Video testimonials are recorded videos of an employee speaking about their experience working at the company. Video testimonials are a great way to showcase employee journeys that attract a good number of viewers. Video testimonials are quite impactful as they are engaging and offer a visual look into the employee experience and allow the audience to connect with the employee at an emotional level. Here is an example of WeWork leveraging video testimonials.

Interactive Testimonials

There are other formats also that can be used for employee testimonials such as:

• Journey testimonials, that specifically talk about an employee’s journey at the company on both personal and professional fronts.
• Interview testimonials are recorded or written interviews with employees, where they are asked a question and they share their experiences. This offers a more personal and conversational aspect to the employee’s experience.
• Experience testimonials are short and concise statements talking about employee experiences.

Key Elements in an Effective Employee Testimonial

Effective employee testimonials are a powerful tool for highlighting your organization’s strengths and bringing the top talent on board. Focusing on key elements like company values, growth, and diversity can help you make an authentic story that allows the candidate to connect instantly and showcase what it’s like to work in your organization.

Authentically Showcasing Company Values

Focus on showcasing how the company’s values fit into day-to-day life at work for the employees. How employees embody an organization’s mission and vision in their contribution. This highlights that these values are just not on paper but employees actually inculcate them. For instance, employees can share how they contributed to a project that aligned with the company’s overall commitment to innovation and customer service. Stories like these help potential candidates see how their own value and contribution can align with that of the company.

Diversity and Inclusion

Employee testimonials need to be diverse in order to accentuate your organization’s commitment to inclusion. Employees from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences in the testimonial highlight that your company values different perspectives and fosters a welcoming environment. Such testimonials can inspire talented candidates from underrepresented groups to apply, knowing that diversity is embraced and celebrated in your organization.

Career Growth Stories

Highlight career development opportunities and long-term employee satisfaction. The majority of the candidates look forward to working with an organization that offers career growth and development opportunities. Career growth stories that showcase personal growth through promotions, skill development, or mentorship bring credibility to a company’s promise of career growth opportunities. Employees who receive promotions, and learning opportunities can share their journeys and help the candidates looking to work in the organization to envision their future.

Workplace Culture

Testimonials that showcase collaboration and work-life balance. An effective employee testimonial should also highlight positive workplace culture by emphasizing elements such as collaboration, work-life balance, and team dynamics. Employees can talk about the support they get from their colleagues and leadership and how they manage a fulfilling work-life balance.

Call to Action

Try adding a call to action, such as visiting your company’s careers page or applying for open positions. This facilitates potential candidates to explore more on what to do next and how they can apply.

How to Create Authentic Employee Testimonials

Having the right employee is essential to bring authenticity to your testimonial. Select a diverse group of employees who can represent different roles, backgrounds, and experiences within the company. It is important to ensure that employees chosen for testimonials are eager to share their stories and are comfortable speaking about their work experiences. When employees naturally convey their passion and satisfaction with the company, authenticity shines automatically.

Conduct Casual Interviews

In order to avoid testimonials sounding scripted or forced, use an informal interview approach to gather employee stories and open-ended questions that encourage employees to share specific examples of their work, challenges they overcame, and how they experience the company’s values in action. For example, you can ask, “ Can you share an experience where the company’s values played a role in your work? Or “How have you grown professionally since joining the company?”. This inspires natural storytelling and real experiences.

Focus on Personal Stories and Experiences

Real-life personal experiences are vital for authentic testimonials. When employees are encouraged to share how they’ve grown in their roles, what they like about the company culture, and specific achievements they are proud of, all these would make up a genuine testimonial that candidates would relate to.

Keep it Real and Relatable

Avoid unnecessary polishing and staged language. Authenticity comes from being original, and testimonials should reflect the language and true experience of your employees. Potential candidates want to know the highs and lows, not just the successes, how the organization stood for the employees and as an organization how it can help them succeed.

10 Inspiring Employee Testimonial Examples (with Analysis)

We have compiled 10 great examples of employee testimonials that you can look at and get inspired. They can be materialized in multiple formats. Each of them is a great way to start your organization’s journey towards creating effective employee testimonials.

1. SelectBlinds

Format: Short videos

SelectBlinds is a company primarily known for custom blinds, shades, drapes, and shutters online. On their TikTok page, they have an employee testimonial series where they go behind the scenes to get the inside scoop on what it is like to work at SelectBlinds.

The audience gets all the information about the employee (her name, role, how long she’s been at the company, etc.) in the first few seconds of the video and it is continued by straightforward questions such as What inspires you, Why people should want to work here, What advice would you give your younger self for which the employee answers honestly and are almost moving.

2. Procter & Gamble (P&G): Global Employee Stories

P&G is another global brand, having a variety of employee testimonials gathered from employees working in many different countries, including the U.S., Brazil, Italy, and Canada. Testimonials like these show that there’s an opportunity for candidates to potentially travel or relocate if they desire to, this helps attract the kind of people P&G seeks. Here is the link to their employee story page

3. Nike: Inspiring Employee Journeys

Format: Montage video and employee journeys

Nike is a well-known sports brand and its employee testimonials are on point. The company has a series of short, inspiring montage videos of employees and moments at Nike that are set to a moving piece of background music.

The video showcases a selection of employees sharing how they joined the company and why they felt called to. There are snapshots of life behind the scenes at Nike and inspiring words that surely draw candidates to their mission. You can check Nike employee stories here.

4. Electronic Arts (EA): Career Insights from Team Members

Format: YouTube video

Electronic Arts is one of the leading publishers of games on Console, PC, and Mobile.

Through videos, EA team members share insights and guide new and prospective employees who are considering a career with the company.

Each participant shares their unique perspective, offering personal advice on what skills someone should have to succeed at the company. This gives an engaging, realistic picture of what future employees can expect when working for EA.

5. Example: Encouragement of Professional Development

Format: Video/ Blog/ social media post

“At [Company Name], I’ve not only been able to grow in my current role but also explore other areas of interest. The leadership team encourages us to learn and step outside of our comfort zones — it’s been a transformative experience!”

6. Example: Appreciation of Work-Life Wellness

Format: video/ post/ blog

“Since joining [Company Name], I’ve found a place that understands the importance of work-life wellness. With flexible hours and the opportunity to work from home, I feel trusted and valued as an employee and as an individual with a life outside work.”

7. Example: Recognition of Inclusive Company Culture

Format: video/ post/ blog

“What I love about working at [Company Name] is its commitment to diversity and inclusion. I feel heard, respected, and valued for my unique perspectives. This supportive environment has helped me bring my best self to work every day.”

8. Example: Acknowledgment of Effective Leadership

Format: video/ post/ blog

“I’m continuously impressed by the leadership at [Company Name]. They set clear expectations, provide valuable feedback, and always have time for their employees. It’s a pleasure working in an environment where the leaders walk the talk.”

9. Example: Praise for Team Collaboration

Format: video/ post/ blog

“The collaborative spirit at [Company Name] is unmatched. Working across teams, learning from diverse skill sets, and moving towards common goals has been a fantastic experience. It truly feels like a united community, not just a workplace.”

10. Example: Admiration for Company Values

Format: video/ post/ blog

“The values of [Company Name] aren’t just words on a wall. They’re lived out daily by the people who work here. From sustainability initiatives to community outreach, it’s amazing to work for a company that practices what it preaches.”

The Benefits of Employee Testimonials for Recruitment

Employee testimonials are a strong strategy in today’s competitive climate. These real-life narratives offer an insider view of your organization, fostering trust, enhancing your brand, and aiding in the recruitment and retention of talent.

Enhanced Employer Brand

Authentic employee testimonials can significantly boost your brand image and reputation. It is an important factor as a strong employer brand can potentially cut your cost per hire in half. By sharing the real stories and experiences of your employees, you showcase transparency and foster trust with prospective employees. It helps in setting the stage that your organization is not just a place to work, but a community to grow professionally and personally.

Attracting diverse talent

Employee testimonials are one of the most effective tools for attracting unique talent. Organizations that showcase diversity and inclusivity through employee testimonials are likely to attract diverse talent. Testimonials give potential hires a realistic view of what it’s like to work at your company and help them decide if it’s the right fit.

Drives engagement and retention

Employee testimonials can also inspire and motivate your existing workforce. When employees see their peers being recognized and their stories shared, it can foster a sense of pride and belonging, improving job satisfaction and engagement.

Builds trust and credibility

Great employee testimonials can help make your organization credible and trustworthy not only among potential candidates but also among customers.  By showing that your company values its employees, you can build trust and loyalty, and potential candidates get a sense that the organization is reliable and trusted by many. It gives your organization a human touch and can strengthen your company’s overall reputation.

Conclusion: Creating a Winning Testimonial Strategy

Creating meaningful and engaging employee testimonials is nowadays a critical part of hiring strategy. Prestigious Companies like Nike, EA, Google and more invest heavily in their employees’ experience to not only attract top talent but also foster a workplace culture and workplace values that encourages innovation, inclusivity, and a shared sense of purpose.

Remember to keep the experience authentic, showcase organizational values, including diversity and inclusion, and focus on real and personal experiences to ensure that the employee testimonials are engaging and impactful. Make employee testimonials a part of your hiring strategy and you will see how great talent would like to work and stay for longer with your brand.