Your new hire buddy is starting soon!

We're excited to have @principal.buddy.preferredName starting on @principal.buddy.startDate. Thanks for helping them get off to a great start! Here's what to do to help them settle in.

Take these actions

• Send a short email (ask HR or their manager for their address) to introduce yourself as their onboarding buddy, share your excitement about them joining, and a couple of your favorite things about working here.
• Block off time in your calendar now for lunch, coffee, and other check-ins you’ll do with @principal.buddy.preferredName over the next 60 days.

Why is this important?

Your message will go a long way towards easing any nervousness about beginning a new job and setting up time on your calendar now ensures you’ll have the time you need to connect with them later.

On their first day

Meet with @principal.buddy.name to help them get familiar with the office and the area (e.g., where to find coffee, lunch, parking, public transportation, etc). If they are already familiar with the area, spend some time introducing them to your team and around the office or having a chat over coffee, etc. 

For those working remotely, you can spend this time sharing some context about you, your team, how you work together, and how you stay connected. 

Plan to spend 30-45 minutes connecting with them.

Here is a sample message you can send:

Hi [NAME]! Welcome to [company]! It’s great to have you join us. There are a lot of new people to meet and things to learn when you start a new job so you might have questions as you settle in. That’s where I come in as your onboarding buddy! I’ve sent you a calendar invite for us to grab coffee or tea later this week so we can get to know one another and I can help answer any questions you might have.   Looking forward to meeting you!

It can be nerve-wracking to start a new job and a friendly hello from a buddy can go a long way. 

During their first week

Plan to have a meal in-person or virtually with @principal.buddy.name once during their first week. You will be reimbursed up to $25 per person for a meal.

Also, check in one or two times for 5-10 minutes over the course of the week to see how they are doing or if they need help with anything. 

Ask: “How has your first week been so far?” or “Is there anything you have had trouble finding?” 

Over their first two months

• Introduce them to people in the office they might not come into contact with as part of their role.
• Check in weekly (~15 minutes) to see how they are doing and if they have any questions
• Have lunch or coffee together (in-person or virtually) in their second month

What's provided for you: 

• A stipend for lunch ($25 pp) 
• A stipend for coffee ($15 pp)

As an onboarding buddy, use these catch-ups with them to help them learn about the culture and how everything works. This means sharing with them all those little things like:

• Where do people go to get coffee or lunch?
• Do people eat together or at their desks?
• Is there special company lingo?
• Is there a way I can easily learn people’s names?

Thanks for making @principal.buddy.preferredName's onboarding experience an amazing one!