How To Make Your New Hires Feel Welcomed On Day One

Think about onboarding for a minute. When you onboard new employees, you're doing more than just handing them a stack of forms to fill out, introducing them to their manager, and showing them where the restrooms are—you're demonstrating your organization's core values. 

As those values start to sink in for new hires, other priorities also emerge. What does your company use for communication? Do you have group projects? Are there contests or teambuilding activities offered? Answers to these questions can be some of the most helpful in getting new employees up to speed on their first day, week, or in some cases, months. 

Design a welcome process.

Design a welcome process for your new hire—this includes everything from checking in at reception to when they start their first day at work and beyond. Think about how you'll introduce them to other employees, what information they'll need right away (such as office policies), and how you'll get them acclimated with the technology everyone else uses.

Assign a buddy.

Have someone in your organization who can help answer questions and provide guidance during this time. The buddy should ideally be someone who has been through the onboarding process before, so they know what's expected of them and what your new employee needs to know.

Keep it simple.

Don't try to cram everything into one day or even one week—instead, break it down into smaller chunks so that each piece builds upon the last one. There is plenty of time for questions and answers along the way.

Set up a new-hire portal.

To make sure your onboarding is successful, create a new-hire portal that provides information about your organization and its culture. This should include things like:

• An introduction letter from your manager (and CEO) welcoming them to the team.

• An overview of your company and its mission statement.

• A list of resources employees can use for self-guided learning (like books or websites).

• A link to a training schedule so employees know what courses to take before starting their jobs.

Get your team involved.

Onboarding doesn't have to be a one-way street. Send an email encouraging everyone to help the new hire feel welcomed and comfortable. Let them know what they can do to make it easier for their new colleague to start contributing right away instead of feeling like they're just observing.

The first few weeks with a new company can be challenging for anyone, regardless of their experience or skill level. And with all the inevitable (but necessary) growing pains, it's important for new employees to develop a sense of trust and dedication for their new workplace. Good onboarding is essential to achieving this goal.

Growing companies that take onboarding seriously realize that the health of their organization depends on getting it right. No matter what your organizational structure, roles within your business, or employee count may be, it's important to remain committed to creating a strong foundation for your company's future—one that values connecting with your employees and establishing an environment that feels personal, welcoming, and conducive to growth.