How to make a new starter feel welcome

Joining a new team can be a daunting prospect. With so many new faces and names to learn, you want to make the transition as easy as possible. Rather than expecting a new starter to make their way in the team alone, it’s nice to provide a sense of community to make them feel welcome. There are many ways to make a new starter feel welcome and here are a few ideas to help you along the way.

Keep in contact

Reaching out to new employees before they start at your company is a lovely way to make them feel included. Whether you get one member of the team to buddy up with them or they get added to the group chat – they’ll appreciate it.

Your first day in a job can be very overwhelming. It’s hard to find your way around and know exactly what you’re doing, so it helps to have someone alongside to guide you. Try not to leave a new starter on their own for the first few weeks in a new role. Leaving someone to their own devices can make them feel anxious and distant from the rest of the team.

New starter welcome pack

A welcome pack is a great way to help your new starter feel at home. Include a branded booklet, stationery, and office supplies. Some nice treats alongside a handwritten letter go a long way too. If you want to go the extra mile, find out more about the likes and dislikes of your new employee, then tailor the welcome pack to suit them.

Give them a tour

Getting your bearings in a new workplace can be hard. So, it’s nice to give someone a tour of their new workspace to help them feel at home. Show them all the important places like the toilets, kitchen, and recreational areas so they can begin to navigate the workplace on their own.

Introduce a new starter to the wider team

Getting to know everyone can be a tough task for a new starter, so introducing them to the wider team helps them to integrate. What’s more, if other people jump to help and support your new team member, the pressure is taken off one person.

Pair them with a mentor

Whether you have a buddy system in place or not, pairing a new starter with a mentor can help them learn at a faster rate. A mentor can help to look out for anyone new and guide them through your company’s systems and processes.