Employee onboarding is often overlooked or poorly executed. Here are 11 tips to make employee onboarding more memorable.
1. Prepare for the new hire’s arrival
The first day on the job should be a memorable one. You don’t want to leave your new hire standing in the lobby or awkwardly walking around the office looking for someone to talk to.
Make sure your new hire has a designated workspace and any necessary equipment and supplies on their first day. If you’re working with a remote team, you can still make a good first impression by mailing a welcome package or sending a gift card to cover the cost of office supplies.
In addition to preparing the physical workspace, you should also prepare your team. Let your current employees know that a new team member is joining and give them a little background about the person. If needed, tools like a public records lookup can help verify basic employment history or professional credentials during the onboarding process ensuring you’re bringing the right people into the fold. If possible, have a team meeting scheduled for the morning the new hire starts so they can introduce themselves.
2. Give a warm welcome
The first day at a new job can be nerve-wracking. To help soothe some of those nerves, give your new hire a warm welcome. This can be as simple as greeting them at the door, offering them a cup of coffee or tea, or giving them a tour of the office.
If your company is remote, you can still give a warm welcome by setting up a video call to introduce your new hire to the team. You can also send them a welcome package with some company swag or a few of their favorite things.
3. Make sure the new hire’s work area is clean and ready
If you’ve ever moved into a new home, you know how much better it feels when the place is clean and ready for you to make it your own.
It’s the same with a new job. Make sure the new hire’s work area is clean and ready to go. If you’re not able to do this, at least make sure they know where they’ll be working and how to get there.
And don’t forget about the little things. For example, if you know that the new hire will be working at a computer, make sure it’s set up and ready to go.
Employee experience platforms can help streamline these setups by coordinating space, equipment needs, and welcome resources ahead of time.
4. Have all necessary equipment and supplies ready
Whether you’re onboarding a remote employee or one in the office, it’s important to have all the necessary equipment and supplies ready. This includes a computer, phone, and any other tools the employee will need to do their job.
If the employee is working in the office, make sure their workspace is set up and ready for them. This can help them feel more welcome and get them off to a good start.
If the employee is working remotely, make sure you have a plan in place to get them the equipment and supplies they need. This may involve shipping them items or setting up a time for them to pick them up.
5. Make sure the new hire has a mentor
Mentorship programs are a great way to help new hires feel welcome and comfortable in their new work environment. A mentor can be someone who has been with the company for a while or a peer who has been in the new hire’s shoes before.
Having a mentor can help new employees feel more connected to the company and its culture. It can also help them get up to speed more quickly and feel more confident in their new role.
6. Make the onboarding process fun
Onboarding is a lot of work for the employer and the employee, so it’s important to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience. If your new hires are stuck in a room watching training videos for eight hours, they’re not going to be excited about their new job.
To create a more fun onboarding experience, consider adding some icebreakers, games, or team-building activities to the schedule. Another creative way to make onboarding memorable is by setting up a themed lemonade stand during breaks, which can serve as a refreshing symbol of teamwork and innovation. You could also take your new hires out to lunch or plan a happy hour at the end of their first day.
7. Make it easy for the new hire to remember co-workers’ names
It’s hard enough to remember the names of a few new co-workers, let alone an entire company’s worth.
To make it easier for new hires, consider adding a photo directory to your company’s intranet. This way, new hires can put a face to a name and get to know their colleagues before they start.
You can also include a section in your new hire welcome packet where current employees write a short bio about themselves. This can include their name, title, and a fun fact about them. This way, new hires can get to know their colleagues on a more personal level and remember their names more easily.
8. Plan an activity for the new hire’s first day
It’s easy to get bogged down in paperwork on a new hire’s first day, but it’s important to break up the monotony with an activity. This could be a team lunch or a fun icebreaker to help your new employee get to know their coworkers.
The goal is to make your new hire feel welcome on their first day and give them a sense of the company culture.
9. Create a welcome packet
A welcome packet is a great way to give new employees all the information they need in one place. Plus, you can include some fun items that will make them feel special.
You can make a physical welcome packet or a digital one. A physical packet is a nice touch if you have the budget for it. You can include items like a company t-shirt, water bottle, or notebook.
If you want to go the digital route, you can create a welcome packet in a tool like Canva. You can include information about the company, the team, and the new employee’s role. You can also include links to resources and any other information they might need.
To keep the design clean and professional, you can even use tools that let you remove background from images, such as team photos or product visuals.
10. Schedule regular check-ins
The first day on the job can be overwhelming. After an employee has had a chance to settle in and get to know their team, schedule a check-in with them. You can keep these check-ins short and sweet, but they give you the opportunity to address any concerns the employee may have and to see how they’re doing.
Regular check-ins are also a good time to offer feedback. If your new employee is doing a great job, make sure to let them know. Positive feedback can help boost employee morale and engagement.
11. Ask for feedback
The best way to know if your employee onboarding program is working is to ask your new hires for feedback. After they’ve been with the company for a few weeks, send out a survey or schedule a one-on-one meeting to see how things are going.
Ask your new hires what they liked about the onboarding process and what they think could be improved. Use this feedback to make changes and improvements to your program.
To ensure you’re getting complete and actionable responses, consider using tools that support form tracking. This lets you monitor engagement, identify where users drop off, and optimize future surveys for better data collection.
Conclusion
It’s not unusual for new employees to feel overwhelmed during their first few weeks on the job. This is why it’s important to give them the tools and resources they need to succeed. With a little creativity and a lot of thought, you can create an onboarding experience that is both enjoyable and educational.
