You’ve posted your job listing, sifted through countless applications, conducted dozens of interviews and finally found that perfect hire. Now what? Make your new employees feel – and look – like part of the team.
Tell New Hires What to Expect
Onboarding new employees starts as soon as they’ve accepted your job offer. Begin by outlining what they can expect, and what you expect from them, on Day One.
Some basic questions include: What time you expect them to begin? What do breaks look like? What do you expect them to wear? Are masks required in the breakroom? Will they be busy with HR paperwork and making introductions, or do you plan to have them sit in on their first meeting? Does your team use Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
Emailing the answers to a few FAQs and a simple agenda can help new team members hit the ground running.
Get Their Space Ready
If your new team member will be in the office, prepare their physical workspace with the supplies and technology they’ll need to start accomplishing real goals from the first day. Remote workers should be given access to internal servers, Zoom rooms and any software they’ll need.
Gear Them Up
No matter where they are physically working, nothing says welcome like a small gift and personal note. A T-shirt or mug with the company logo may seem like a small gesture to you, but it can help new hires instantly feel at home and like they’re part of the team. Leave their gifts with a note on their desk for them to find, or send them as part of an appreciation package to remote hires.
Everyone loves a free T-shirt, but masks, notepads, hats and bags with the company logo all make great new employee gifts. If employees wear branded items as a part of their daily uniform, such as embroidered polos and hats, get sizes and colors ahead of time and have these uniforms pieces ready for their first day.
Give Them a Tour
Start the day with a tour of the office. Basic pit stops include their work space, where they can find supplies, bathrooms, kitchens, break areas and conference rooms. Don’t forget to point out the work areas of anyone important to their success, such as managers, other employees in their department and HR. A tour will naturally lead to Day One’s next tasks: team introductions.
Introduce Them to the Team
The quickest way to help them feel like part of the team is to introduce them to the team! Depending on the size of your business, they may not meet everyone the first day, but start with whoever they’ll report to directly and other members of their department. Visit other departments as time allows. Welcome breakfasts, lunches and meeting mentions are great, but nothing beats meeting other employees one-on-one.
Assign Task No. 1
While paperwork and introductions are expected on their first day, lots of new hires are eager to get started with their main work tasks and prove their value. Assign a light task (or two) on their first day to both introduce them to what they’ll be doing and give them a boost of confidence in their new role. Remember, the goal is to get them started and give them a chance to show their talents. Don’t ask for the world or assign tasks that need training you haven’t had a chance to provide.
Check In at the End of the Day
You did it! You helped your new hire successfully navigate through Day One. More assignments, trainings and meetings will follow, but don’t miss this opportunity to check in. How was their first day? Do they have any questions? An end-of-day conversation help solidify all the new information they’ve learned and give you the opportunity to express again how thankful you are for your new team member.
Hiring can be hard, but onboarding doesn’t have to be. If you would like help making sure all your employees are dressed for success, contact the Full Press Apparel team at 850-222-1003 or info@fullpressapparel.com.
