Chapter 1 - HR Matters
IN THIS LESSON
New Hire Onboarding Template
The importance of onboarding well
As a manager, your role in onboarding contributes directly to the engagement and success of a new hire - which is why it’s so important that you take time to consider how to best set them up for success. You may already have other direct reports but keep in mind that every person is different and may have different needs!
*Keep in mind, this template is not a one-size-fits-all guide and should be used only to inform your own process.
Setup v. Onboarding What to do for Onboarding:
Onboarding is a several month processes involving integrating your new hire with the company.
★ Send a welcome email to announce your employee to the rest of the company and properly welcome them
★ Prepare your new hire for their first day with what to expect (see our “what to expect” email template for guidance)
★ Set aside 1:1 time for your new hire with each member of their team - create the connections they need to succeed
★ Make sure they’ve gone through the new hire checklist
★ *At the end of onboarding, employees are full participants in your organization and culture
Before the First Day
❏ Send “what to expect for your first day” email →
❏ Set up their calendar for the first day - consider planning a team lunch, set up coffee with important contacts in the org, etc
❏ Send all necessary paperwork and reminders about documents they need to bring with them on the first day (see Gusto’s list of new hire paperwork)
❏ Set up their desk (if applicable) and write a nice note to welcome them!
Other things you might include.
Create a buddy program for new hires where existing members of your team are the informal “buddy” for a new hire to help them acclimate to the culture, answer quick questions, and be a day-one friend.
Create a form that you share with new hires in advance of their first day to ask questions (favourite colour, favourite food, activities they like, pets, hometown, etc.) and then incorporate those into their first day or share them with the org as a “get to know you” exercise.
Great additional resources
Sapling: Ultimate Guide to Employee Onboarding
Lever: New Hire Checklist to Build Engagement +
Employee Onboarding Example
Gusto: New Hire Paperwork Checklist