How to Make a New Employee Feel Welcome

One of the most intimidating and overwhelming parts of joining a new company is going through the onboarding process—but it doesn't have to be that way. Onboarding provides an excellent opportunity for companies to help new hires feel welcome and set them up for success in their position. How employees start in a new company or a new role can dramatically affect their performance,?engagement, and tenure.

There are many essential aspects to consider to create a transparent and productive onboarding process that will benefit newly hired employees and the company in the long run. Here are several strategies you can use to make new employees feel welcome and connected and make progress.

1. Create an individualized onboarding plan

Show the new employee the vital role they play within the overall context of the company. In this way, the connection between the workplace, the company, and the customer's needs is optimally established, and the person is all in.

2. Communicate before their start date

Before their first day on the job, preferably just a day or two before their start date, send the new hire a quick email sharing how excited you are for them to join the team. Mention specific information you recall from the interviews and connect it to your team's work. Just that simple message can help them focus on what they’re looking forward to and help them feel cared for and understood even before you’re technically their team leader.

3. Provide a "welcome-view" (instead of an interview)

To make new employees feel welcome, offer a "welcome-view." Instead of the new hires telling the team about themselves, have the team describe to the new hires how excited they are to welcome them. Team members involved in the hiring process share why they're so happy for their new teammate during this reverse interview experience. These "welcome-views" are best done in person on the first day, but they could also be done by flooding the new hire's email inbox with positive messages throughout the day.

4. Schedule regular check-ins

Another way to make new employees feel welcome is to schedule check-ins, preferably one week and one month after their start date, and then a normal cycle. These discussions are about learning the new hire’s feelings, thoughts, and desires around the team and the work. You want to know if there’s any tension, issues you can help resolve, or any resources you can provide. So, after you’ve sent that new hire home on the first day, make a note in your calendar to circle back after one week and one month for a discussion not about goals but about them.

When leaders spend the first days welcoming new employees and reinforcing relationships, it sets them up to do their best work.

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