Starting a new job can be as (if not even more) nerve-wracking as it is exciting. Your new hires will be hesitantly entering unfamiliar workspaces, meeting new team members and joining a culture created long before they arrived. Creating a welcoming onboarding process for new hires, though, is a great way to ease the strain and alleviate some of the stress of starting a new job, along with boasting a lot of other benefits!
Part of a good onboarding process includes providing new hires with a welcome package — beyond the basics of company policies and wi-fi passwords, however, it can be tricky to figure out what should make the cut. Many companies will include additional items in their onboarding packages like special corporate gifts that welcome new hires the company way, and some will include experiential gifts that show new hires what life with the company is all about. Ultimately, though, creating a welcoming and appropriate onboarding process will mean figuring out what YOUR company is all about.
What better way to kick off your newfound relationship than with a selection of meaningful gifts. These can also help them successfully transition into their new role! The impersonal first days of a new job can feel overwhelming and cold. Thus, simply adding a few extra items or gifts to an onboarding package can go a long way towards creating a more welcoming experience for a new employee. Along with this, welcome gifts will:
Welcome items should reflect the values and spirit of the company. However, they should also ensure a positive introduction of it. As a bonus, some of the best welcome items will also be ones that help them excel in their new positions.
Ask other employees or team members for their input and ideas about what might be best in your onboarding package. is If you’re having a hard time, your team can reflect back to their own days of being the new hire and figure out what they would have liked to receive. Or, maybe even something that they DID receive and loved! In general, though, employees tend to prefer:
Things that your new employee will find particularly practical and useful are always appreciated! Practical items can range from day planners with cool designs to super cool sticky notes. But, depending on your field and company culture it could be unexpected and exciting items like:
Nothing says team more than shared style through branded clothing. Nothing feels better as a new employee than being able to blend in and find their place. Go above and beyond the basics with cool custom branded pieces like:
Experiential gifts offer a more immersive and memorable way to welcome employees and create a positive impression. These types of gifts can include anything from exotic wine tastings to paddleboarding lessons. You can really cater them to your employee or company culture! With an experiential gift, a new hire may also get the option to choose what experiences they would like to have. Depending on your company, an experiential gift may be:
When you hire a new employee as a company, they are hoping to build a long-lasting relationship that will benefit both of you. You’ll want to ask yourself if you’re outwardly expressing this desire as well! Especially considering the challenges behind finding and keeping good help, developing a positive company culture, and pursuing positive first impressions is important now more than ever before. By selecting the perfect welcome items, you can both surprise and delight new employees. All while outwardly establishing the long-lasting connection and successful long-term relationship you hope to create.
