There was a point in my career where I had a team of around 18 people. When a new person joined, I asked the folks in their area to share a fun fact. They also provided a specific item I asked about. I would place the photo and fact in a table within an email. Then, I would send it along with a note of welcome to the new hire.
This created a connection to the company and to our team. It gave us a topic to discuss on day one that wasn’t about work.
Here is an example:
Dear <NAME>,
I’m very excited to welcome you to our team. As we wait for your arrival, I’ll share a bit about the team in a fun way. Please feel free to respond with your answers as well if you’d like! This is optional.
Would you rather visit a zoo or carnival and why?
| Stacey Smith, Sr. Training and Development Specialist <Photo of Stacey> | The zoo because I love the elephants! When I was a kid I got to feed them and couldn’t get enough. One day, I want to visit an elephant refuge. |
| John Johnson, Recruiting Manager <Photo of John> | The carnival all the way. I’m a ride person and love the hall of mirrors. |
We look forward to your first day. Attached you will find the schedule for your first two weeks with us. If you have any questions or would like to connect, feel free to reach out to me at anytime.
Amanda
Choose a question that you and your team find fun. It should help you welcome the new teammate.
Other examples:
- What’s your favorite dad joke?
- Favorite vacation and why?
- Lake, ocean, or forest and why?
The key is to be yourself. Allow the team to be themselves. They should do it in a way that aligns with the culture you support within your team.
What things have you done to welcome your new employees? Need help with onboarding? Consider the book *”Successful Onboarding: Strategies to Unlock Hidden Value Within Your Organization” by Mark Stein.
*Affiliate link
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