The onboarding process sets the tone for a new hire’s experience and can shape their perception of your company as well as impact their decision to stay long-term. A welcoming and well-executed onboarding process can help new hires feel valued, supported, and set them up for a successful transition into their new role.
While paperwork and training are essential components of a successful onboarding process, the personal touches and warm welcome are what can set your company apart and breed an honest, supportive, and productive relationship with new hires from day one. Include these tips in your onboarding checklist to guide how to welcome a new employee and provide a unique and engaging onboarding experience.
Get a head start
The onboarding process begins from the moment your new hire signs their job offer. Pre-boarding is the process of preparing for a new employee’s first day by getting a head start on the essentials to ensure they have a supportive and smooth first day on the job.
Build a buddy system
If you’re wondering how to welcome a new employee to your company to ensure they feel supported and adopted into the culture early on, start with building a buddy program within your organization. A buddy is someone available to provide advice and support to your new hire and helps ensure a smooth transition.
Start by identifying qualified employees to enlist in your buddy program, these individuals should have tenure at your organization, strong people skills, and an interest in mentorship. Assign compatible buddies with new hires and provide a list of activities for them to carry out as they welcome your new employee. Buddies are often assigned to welcome new employees on their first day, show them around, introduce them to peers, and be a general point of reference as they get acclimated.
Provide a workspace
You want your new employee to feel well-equipped and confident for their first day in their new role. Providing them with all the necessary tools and information they need to do their job is exactly how to welcome a new employee with ease and forethought.
If you’re welcoming an employee into the office, ensure they have an assigned workspace, any equipment they may need such as a laptop, and access to important company information such as training materials or your employee handbook.
For remote employees, coordinate with your IT department to send them their computers before their first day, and pre-load any necessary programs onto their computers to set them up for success on their first day.
Prep your team
Before your new hire’s first day, be sure to inform the company and especially their direct team of their joining. Build this into your onboarding email process, send a Slack message, or make an announcement during your company meeting. However your approach, it’s a great practice to prep employees and remind them to give a warm welcome to new employees as they join.
Day One: How to Welcome New Employees
Your pre-boarding process is complete and the day has come to finally welcome your new hire to their first day of work. First days are exciting and also can be stressful for employees, so it’s important to create a warm and welcoming environment to foster a sense of belonging.
Greeting your new employee
Whether in-person or remote, it’s important to provide a warm welcome for new employees. Assign someone to receive the new hire on their first day, this could be a pre-assigned buddy, their manager, or someone from your HR team. You want to provide a familiar face and resource to greet and introduce your new employee to the office. If your company is remote, this can take place over a video call first thing.
Welcoming a new employee can go beyond a physical greeting. New employee welcome kits are a great way to greet your employee and foster a sense of connection upon their first day on the job.
Tour the office
For in-person employees, getting a lay of the land is an important component of feeling comfortable at their new job. Show your new hire around, point out their workspace, the closest bathrooms, and break areas, and even give them the inside scoop on your favorite coffee shop or restaurants in the area. This personal touch goes a long way in making them feel like a part of the team.
Make introductions
Introduce your new employee to their peers on their first day to start building connections from day one. This is where your pre-boarding introduction email comes in handy since the team will be prepared for meeting the new employee. Introductions can be made in person while you tour the office, during your company-wide meeting over a video call, or via Slack with fun emojis or GIFs to infuse some fun into the experience.
Review policies and procedures
Amid the tours and introductions, it’s essential to inform new hires of the policies and procedures of your company to ensure their success in their new role. Provide this information in both hard copy and electronic for their easy reference, and make yourself available for any questions that may arise as they view this information.
27 Impactful Welcome Messages to New Employees
Writing a welcome message to new employees can be an effective way to create a positive first impression and make them feel like valued members of the team. Include welcome messages in your onboarding process to increase engagement and boost morale.
Tips for writing a welcome message to a new employee
Searching for the right words for how to welcome a new employee? Follow these best practices.
Be sincere
Start your message by expressing your genuine excitement to have the new employee join your team. Let them know that you are looking forward to working with them.
Keep it short
Keep your message short and to the point. Avoid using technical jargon or overly formal language. Use simple and easy-to-understand language that makes the new employee feel comfortable and welcomed. *Pro tip: Emojis help keep it light and playful!
Emphasize culture
Mention the company's values, mission, and vision. Let the new employee know what your company stands for and how they can contribute to its success.
Offer assistance
Let the new employee know that they can reach out to you or their colleagues if they need any assistance or have any questions.
Make it personal
Address the new employee by their name and use details that you know about them such as their position, or where they’re from to make the message more personal.
Sample Welcome Messages to New Employees
Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words. Use these examples for inspiration in your future welcome messages to new employees.
Over email
Hi {employee’s first name},
We’re so excited to have you on board at {company name}! Congratulations on your first day as {position title}. The team is looking forward to getting to know you and working with you. Please let me know if you have any questions or need anything as you get settled. I’m here to help!
Best,
{Signature}
Hey {employee first name},
It’s your first day as {position title} at {company name}! We’re thrilled to have you join our team, and can’t wait to get to know you better. {Buddy name} has been assigned as your new-hire buddy, they will reach out to you shortly. Please let us know if there’s anything we can help with while you settle in.
Cheers,
{Signature}
Over Slack
Hey {first name}, welcome to the team, and congrats on your first day at {company name}! I’ve invited you to all our relevant Slack channels, so take some time to check them out and say hello to your colleagues. We’re glad to have you! Just ping me here if you need anything 🙂
Hi {first name}! How’s your morning going so far? I wanted to be the first to welcome you on your first day! We’re so excited to have you here. I’ll be sending through some instructions and information to get you settled but feel free to message me in the meantime if you need anything. Cheers!
For in-person teams
Hi team,
I’d like to announce {new hire first name}’s arrival as our {position title}, it’s their first day today so be sure to stop by and give them a warm welcome. We’ll be hosting a welcome lunch at {place and time} and would love for you all to join.
{New hire first name}, welcome to the team!
Hey everyone,
Introducing {new hire first name}, they are joining {manager name}’s team as our {position title} and their first day is today! Be sure to say hello when you see them around the office, or grab a coffee at lunch (they’re a latte enthusiast!).
{New hire first name}, we’re so glad to have you. Welcome to {company name}.
For remote teams
Hi team,
Today is {new hire first name}’s first day here at {company name}. They’re joining us as our {position title} and are located in {location}. {New hire first name} is a pet lover and has 2 cats, so feel free to drop your pet pics in the channel to get acquainted 🐱. {New hire first name}, welcome!!
🎉New employee alert🎉
{New hire first name} is joining our team today as our {position title} on {manager name}’s team! Be sure to give them a warm welcome and share your favorite coffee shops in {location} as they just moved to the area! {New hire first name}, it’s so good to have you on board. Let us know if you need anything!
For temporary employees
Team - {intern first name} is joining our team today as our {position title}. They’ll be with us for {time period} and will be supporting {tasks}. {New hire name} is a student at {school} and is finishing up their {year} year. After graduation, they hope to build a career in {industry}. Please give them a warm welcome!
{intern first name}, welcome to {company name}. We’re lucky to have you on our team and are here to help with anything you need!
Hi everyone,
Introducing {contract hire}, they will be joining us at interim {position title} for the next {time period}. {Contract hire} is coming from {previous company} and will be a great help in {tasks}. Be sure to say hello and help get them up to speed on {information}.
{Contract hire first name}, we’re glad to have you here at {company name}!
For permanent employees
Hi team,
I’m thrilled to introduce {new hire first name} as our new {position title}. Today is their first day, so let’s give them a warm welcome to the team. We have a welcome lunch scheduled for {place and time}, and I hope you can all join us to celebrate {new hire first name}'s arrival.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
Hi team,
Please join me in welcoming {new hire first name} as our new {position title}. They start today, and we are excited to have them on board. Let's make sure to make them feel welcome.
{New hire first name}, welcome!
For executives
Dear team members,
I am pleased to introduce {new hire first name} as our new {executive position title}. {New hire first name} joins us today and brings with them a wealth of experience and expertise in {relevant field}. Please make them feel welcome as we embark on a new chapter together.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
Dear team,
I am pleased to announce that {new hire first name} has joined our organization as our new {executive position title}. They bring extensive experience in {relevant field} and will offer great insight into our organization. Please take the time to introduce yourselves to them and offer your support as we work towards achieving our organizational goals.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
For managers
Hey team,
I am excited to introduce {new hire first name} as our new {management position title}. They start today, and I can already tell they’re going to be a great addition to the team. Please make sure to give them a warm welcome and show them the ropes.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
Hey everyone,
I'd like to take a moment to welcome {new hire first name} to our team as our new {management position title}. They start today, and I know they will bring a lot of fresh ideas and energy to our group. Please make them feel welcome and offer your support as they get up to speed.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
For entry-level employees
Hi everyone,
I'm pleased to introduce {new hire first name} as our new {position title}. They start today, and I know they will bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to our team. Let's make sure to give them a warm welcome and show them that we're here to support them as they start this new role.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
Hey all,
I'm excited to announce that {new hire first name} is joining our team as our new {position title}. They start today, and I know they’re ready to hit the ground running! Please take the time to introduce yourselves and offer your support as {new hire first name} gets settled in.
Welcome to the team, {new hire first name}!
Continuous engagement
Building a welcoming environment during the onboarding process extends beyond your employee’s first day. Here, we dig into some additional tips on how to welcome a new employee in their first weeks and set the path for ongoing engagement during their time at your company.
Setting goals and expectations
To allow employees to thrive in their roles, they must understand exactly what is expected and required from them to meet the goals and mission of your company. Setting expectations early on during the onboarding process creates a path for your new hire to thrive and helps boost employee engagement.
During their first week, schedule some time to connect with your new hire and align their personal career goals with broader company goals. For maximum impact, structure your goal setting into the OKR framework, or work with your employee to develop key performance indicators to help clearly define goals and expectations. Maximizing employee productivity and engagement is possible through ongoing guidance and support, consider implementing their goals into a 30-60-90-day plan to help them achieve their goals and provide purpose and direction to their role.
Regular check-ins
Regular check-ins help breed familiarity and build trust between managers and employees. As your employee continues to grow into their role and acquaint themselves with your company, it’s important to provide ongoing support and feedback to ensure their success. Check-ins also provide multiple opportunities for employees to share their experiences which are deeply helpful in measuring your employee onboarding experience.
Schedule regular check-ins with your new hire, we recommend one at the end of their first day, one at the end of their first week, and continued meetings once a week following that to ensure open and clear communication. Be sure to offer yourself as a resource for any questions or concerns that might arise.
Enhance Your Onboarding Experience With Omni
A warm and welcoming onboarding experience is your opportunity to build strong employee engagement from day one, leading to higher retention and productivity. Studies show 69% of employees are more likely to stay at their company if they receive a quality onboarding experience. When new employees feel supported and valued during their onboarding process, it sets them up for long-term success in their roles.
Leverage these tips to help set yourself up for success and keep a consistent and impactful onboarding experience by utilizing Omni’s free employee onboarding checklist. For more opportunities to increase engagement and level up your onboarding process, talk to our team about automating your onboarding process to create consistency and free up valuable time to focus on strategic matters for your team.
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