Mark Oliver's World

Posted: 05/03/2024

How To Prepare For The First Day Of A New Starter

When someone is joining the company for the first time, there is a lot of preparation required to bring them onboard and make them feel a part of the company and the team.

I have joined companies in the past where I have turned up and had to:

  • Clear out the previous occupants desk
  • Find a computer and a chair
  • Request licenses for the basics e.g. Visual Studio

Also while working remotely, I have also turned up to:

  • No access for company network/website.
  • No access to my manager for several days and no way to contact anyone else.

Therefore when you are bringing a new starter into the team, this is the list I use to help me board them:

Physical things

  • PC
  • Monitor(s)
  • Headset/Microphone/Speakers
  • Webcam
  • Notebook & Stationary
  • Chair
  • Desk

Virtual things

  • Software Logins & Licenses e.g. Visual Studio, GitHub, Jira, HR System, MS Office, Email
  • An Organisation diagram
  • Links to all the relevant documentation - Specifically a team specific "New Starter Guide"

Human things

  • Someone to greet them on their first day
  • Someone to show them around the premises on their first day
  • Someone to introduce them to the team, department, key stakeholders, HR and Site Services
  • A consistent point of contact for all questions
  • A definitive plan for the first day. One person should be given the job (& time) to ensure that occurs.
  • Ensure that there Line manager contacts them as soon as possible. Even remotely or in a different time zone this is a must do.

Onboarding does not stop on Day 1

Then after they turn up on the first day, these additional things will be needed, but not necessarily on that day:

  • Communicate frequently with them.
  • A Training Plan - To start with, this will be company specific training e.g. How to use the software systems. Long term training plans come later.

Bringing a new person on to your team well, is so important for them to start there career with you. If as a new joiner, you don't feel like a part of the team quickly, you will likely never achieve your full potential, and at worst, leave soon, and waste all the effort the company has put in.

Thanks for reading this post.

If you want to reach out, catch me on Twitter!

I am always open to mentoring people, so get in touch.