10 Employee Testimonial Questions to Ask for Authentic Feedback

When it comes to deciding where to work, the majority of employees and job seekers consider researching company reviews and ratings to be a crucial step.

In fact, a staggering 86% of them believe so. In light of this, sharing employee testimonials has become an essential part of building a company’s reputation and brand.

Not already incorporating employee video testimonials into your hiring strategy? You might be missing out on some of the top candidates.

In this article will provide the top 10 employee testimonial questions that should be asked of a team, along with tips on where to share them.

Why Create Employee Testimonials?

Employee testimonials can be a powerful tool for recruitment and employer branding. Prospective candidates are more likely to trust social proof from current employees than from company executives.

Employee testimonials provide an authentic view of what it's like to work for a particular company, which is valuable information for job seekers.

By creating and sharing employee testimonials, companies can improve their recruitment marketing efforts and attract top talent.

When employees are a good fit from the start, they are more likely to stay long-term, reducing recruitment costs and improving employee retention.

Employee testimonials also add credibility to a company's branding efforts. They show that the company values its employees and cares about their experiences.

This authenticity helps to improve the candidate experience and can lead to a more positive perception of the company overall.

Why You Don’t Need to Ask Loads of Questions

1. Short Questions Are Effective

Creating effective employee testimonials involves considering both the audience's time and the effort required to respond.

Each question should be concise, ensuring clarity for respondents. Overcomplicating questions not only decreases engagement but also makes it easy for interviewees to forget or lose interest.

A practical approach is to limit each question to a brief sentence.

2. Limit the Number of Questions

A streamlined list of questions enhances the likelihood of response. Overwhelming participants with numerous questions can deter participation and reduce the quality of responses.

Using between one and three questions is typically sufficient, with a strict limit of five questions to avoid overwhelming the respondent.

Here's an example of an efficient, two-question survey suitable for gathering employee testimonial videos:

1. What do you enjoy most about working at our company?
2. How would you describe your team in one word?

Top 10 Employee Testimonial Questions

To create effective employee testimonial videos or written testimonials, it's important to ask the right questions.

Here are ten essential questions to include in your questionnaire:

1. What Is Your Name and Job Title?

This simple question is an excellent icebreaker before diving into more detailed questions.

It also establishes the interviewee's job title, which helps job seekers determine if the testimonial is relevant to them.

2. How Would You Summarize Your Position?

Asking this question encourages employees to think about their roles and responsibilities in more detail.

It also provides insight into how the employee views their position at the company.

3. How Long Have You Worked for This Company?

Asking this question helps job seekers determine the interviewee's level of satisfaction with their job.

If someone has worked at a company for several years, it signals that they are at least somewhat satisfied with their position.

4. What Does a Typical Day Look Like for You?

This question provides insight into what someone can expect to do each day if they work at the company.

It also helps job seekers determine if the responsibilities of the job align with their interests and areas of expertise.

5. What Do You Look Forward to When Coming to Work?

Asking employees to share something they look forward to each day sheds light on the positive aspects of the company.

It makes the company more enticing to potential new hires.

6. How Would You Describe the Culture at This Company?

Company culture and workplace environment are important factors for job seekers.

Asking employees to describe the company culture helps potential candidates determine if the work environment is a good fit for them.

7. What’s the Most Important Thing You’ve Learned Working at This Company?

People want a career that encourages growth and professional development.

If employees share important things they've learned while working for the company, it sends a message that the company offers this kind of environment.

8. Do You Have Any Funny or Interesting Stories to Share from Your Time Working at This Company?

Asking employees to share funny or interesting stories about their time at the company ensures that the testimonials don't seem too dry or serious.

It also makes the company seem like a fun and exciting place to work.

9. What Makes You Happiest About Working at This Company?

People want to feel happy and fulfilled in their jobs.

If employees share stories about what makes them feel happy and satisfied at work, it shows job seekers that the company can provide them with a supportive environment.

10. Would You Recommend This Company to a Friend Looking for a Job?

Asking employees if they would recommend the company to others is one of the most important questions to include. Referrals and recommendations matter a great deal to job seekers. If employees say that they would recommend the company, it signals to potential candidates that the company is a great place to work.

What Makes a Good Employee Testimonial?

A strong employee testimonial should be:

• Authentic – Avoid scripted answers; encourage natural, honest responses.
• Relatable – The story should resonate with the target audience (e.g., potential hires in similar roles).
• Specific – Instead of vague praise, highlight concrete examples of positive experiences.
• Balanced – While positive overall, testimonials can acknowledge challenges and how the company supports employees through them.
• Concise – Keep video testimonials under 2 minutes and written testimonials under 250 words for maximum engagement.

Where Can I Share Employee Testimonials?

Careers Page

Your careers page is often the first stop for potential applicants.

Embedding employee testimonials — either as videos, quotes, or both — gives job seekers an authentic look at your company culture right where they’re already considering applying.

Consider placing them near open roles or in a dedicated “Life at [Company]” section so they’re easy to find.

Social Media

Platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok are perfect for sharing short, engaging clips from employee testimonials.

For example, post a 30–60 second video of an employee describing what they love most about working at your company, paired with a behind-the-scenes photo. Consistently sharing these stories can increase reach and boost your employer brand visibility.

Job Postings

Most job descriptions are text-heavy, so adding an embedded testimonial video or quote can make your listing stand out.

Including a direct employee perspective within a job ad gives candidates more context and can help them decide faster if the role is a good fit.

This works well on LinkedIn, Indeed, or any ATS that supports multimedia.

Onboarding Materials

Testimonials aren’t just for recruitment — they can help new hires feel welcome and confident in their decision to join.

Adding testimonial videos or quotes to onboarding materials reassures them they’ve made the right choice and helps them connect to your company culture from day one.

Email Campaigns

If you run recruitment marketing or candidate nurture emails, testimonials can be a powerful trust-building element.

Include a testimonial in your newsletter or as part of an email sequence for candidates who have shown interest but haven’t applied yet. Real employee stories can nudge them to take the next step.

Internal Communications

Sharing testimonials internally celebrates employees and strengthens company culture.

Post them in your internal newsletter, Slack channels, or at all-hands meetings. Highlighting team members’ positive experiences fosters pride and encourages others to share their own stories.

Pro Tip: Repurpose each testimonial into multiple formats — a full-length video, short social clips, text quotes, and blog features — to get the most value from each story.

5 Real Examples of Employee Testimonials

Below are five authentic employee-written or employee-spoken testimonials from well-known companies.

1. Salesforce – “Salesforce Stories” career hub

“I received a Slack message about Career Connect day it launched, thought ‘This is it!’” Salesforce

Salesforce curates long-form, magazine-style posts that trace employees’ pivots, promotions, and “boomerang” returns.

Each story pairs candid quotes with photos and clear role context, highlighting internal mobility and the company’s AI-powered Career Connect tool.

The depth and specificity signal real growth paths, making the content persuasive to ambitious candidates.

2. Microsoft – People of Microsoft feature

“I want to help others get a little bit closer to their own dreams.” Microsoft

The People of Microsoft series reads like human-interest journalism: rich narrative, personal challenges, and high-quality imagery.

By spotlighting first-generation and low-income voices, Microsoft shows tangible inclusion rather than corporate platitudes.

The emotional arc keeps readers engaged and communicates that diverse backgrounds are welcomed and supported.

3. Adobe – “My Adobe Life” video + blog series

“No two career journeys at Adobe are alike.” Adobe Blog

Adobe mixes two-minute YouTube clips with companion blog posts, letting employees narrate their own unconventional career paths.

The multi-format approach meets talent where they browse—social feeds for quick inspiration, written detail for deeper research—while reinforcing core values like creativity and initiative.

4. HubSpot – Product Blog “Day in the Life” post

“Working as a PM at HubSpot has been a life-long dream come true.” Hubspot

Each “Day in the Life” article is written in the employee’s voice and breaks down a typical schedule, current projects, and personal growth tips.

Concrete details (e.g., daily stand-ups, tech stack, road-mapping rituals) help prospects self-assess fit, and the first-person tone feels authentic because it is—no PR gloss, just daily reality.

5. Airbnb – “Life at Airbnb” culture page

“At Airbnb, you have the flexibility to live and work anywhere.” Airbnb

Airbnb embeds short testimonials directly into its flagship culture page, tying quotes to marquee policies like Live and Work Anywhere.

By linking aspirational benefits to real employee statements, the company turns a policy into a lived experience, helping candidates visualize the lifestyle and reinforcing Airbnb’s brand promise of belonging.

Each example succeeds by letting employees tell specific, personal stories—in the format (blog, video, hub page) their target talent pool is most likely to consume—while anchoring those stories to concrete cultural pillars (mobility, inclusion, creativity, flexibility).

How to Collect Employee Testimonials in 3 Simple Steps

Now you have the best employee testimonial questions to gather authentic feedback, here's how to start using those and collecting testimonials in a matter of a few clicks.

1. Sign Up for Simple Testimonial

Sign Up for Simple Testimonial to start collecting employee feedback.

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2. Add Your Questions

Now that you've signed up, add your questions, and set up your feedback form using the questions from the above list:

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3. Ask your Customers for Feedback

You've configured your Feeedback Form, added your questions and now you're ready to collect.

It's as simple as sharing your unique Feeedback Form link with your customers, and asking for their feedback.

Final Thoughts on Employee Testimonials

Employee testimonials aren’t just a “nice-to-have” — they’re a powerful recruitment and branding tool. Done well, they humanize your company, inspire trust, and help you attract and retain the right talent.

Start small, keep it authentic, and make sharing employee stories part of your ongoing hiring strategy.

FAQs

How Long Should an Employee Testimonial Video Be?

Aim for 60–120 seconds. This gives employees enough time to share a meaningful story without losing the viewer’s attention.

Shorter videos are easier to share on social media and more likely to be watched in full by busy candidates.

Should I Script Employee Testimonials?

Avoid fully scripting testimonials, as they can sound rehearsed and lose authenticity.

Instead, provide a few guiding questions and let employees respond in their own words. This ensures the content feels natural, relatable, and trustworthy while still aligning with your employer branding goals.

Can I Use Testimonials From Former Employees?

Yes, if they left on good terms and speak positively about their experience.

Former employees can offer a valuable long-term perspective on your company culture and growth opportunities, which can help attract candidates who want stability and lasting career development.

Do I Need Professional Video Equipment?

Not necessarily. Most modern smartphones can capture high-quality video as long as you have good lighting, clear audio, and a clean background.

You can enhance production value with a tripod, ring light, or lapel mic without needing a full video crew.

How Often Should I Collect New Testimonials?

Aim to update your testimonials at least quarterly to keep your content fresh and relevant.

New hires, recent promotions, and employees in different departments can bring diverse perspectives that appeal to a wider range of job seekers and keep your employer brand dynamic.