Whether it’s a first job, the tenth job, or a promotion (even a lateral one), a new job is a big deal.
That’s why a new employee’s first day is the perfect opportunity for you, as the manager, to leverage the power of first impressions and ensure the company gets a positive ROI on the time and money it took to recruit, select, and train your new hire.
Onboarding ideas you should consider
Here are some ideas we know work well:
- Send a welcome packet to their home address that arrives at least a few days before their first day.
- Put a welcome sign in their work area or a note on their desk signed by all of their co-workers.
- Give them a complete tour of the facility right away so they get the lay of the land and know where the restrooms, break rooms, exits, and safety gear are.
- Make sure someone takes them, or at least goes with them, to lunch.
- Give the new hire a bag of candy bars and tell the rest of the staff that if they stop by and introduce themselves they can collect a candy bar.
- Give the new person a company hat, t-shirt, or coffee cup.
What do you do on Day One to make new employees feel like valued members of the team? I’d welcome your input below.)
This was originally published on Mel Kleiman’s Humetrics blog.