We’ve all experienced getting a new colleague. We look forward to meeting and getting to know them. Maybe you’ve planned a shared welcome and introduction in the department—not only to give a warm reception but also to spare your new colleague from having to answer the same questions too many times. Often our questions are the usual classics, such as:
- Where did you work before you came here?
- What experience do you bring to the team?
- What is your educational background?
- What will you be doing in your job with us?
- What do you spend time on after work and in weekends?
- What are you looking forward to in your new job?
It’s natural to start with these questions because we don’t know our new colleague, but it can quickly become a bit tedious, and sometimes we only get to know our colleague on a surface level. Here are some suggestions for how you can facilitate a welcome that your new colleague won’t soon forget and giving you a more personal insight into who your new colleague really is.
The Personal Interview
It’s crucial that you create a welcoming atmosphere on the first day at work. Remember that you have a colleague for whom everything is new, and who doesn’t know you and your culture. By facilitating a short interview, you ensure that a colleague takes the new hire by the hand and creates a good atmosphere. It’s recommended that the employee and the new meet before the first day, so the new hire knows what to expect.
In a short interview the employee can ask more personal questions without making the new hire feel uncomfortable or awkward—because it’s agreed upon in advance. This also allows the questions to go a bit deeper, touching on topics like the new hire’s youth, family relationships, what they do a lot in their free time, house or summer house projects, secondary jobs, hobbies, etc.
Quiz
Quiz creates engagement and involves all employees, and it’s fun. Presenting new hires via a quiz also requires a facilitator and some preparation between the facilitator and the new hires. Quiz works well if you want fun facts about your new colleague—it could be favorite foods, preferred travel destinations, pets, special interests, or hobbies, etc. The quiz can be arranged in various ways, like Jeopardy or a classic 13-question format.
You can also use seasonal events as a theme. For example, at Easter you could create a quiz in the form of Easter egg riddles, where colleagues must guess which riddle is correct, or if there are several new hires, colleagues can match the new hires with the riddles containing information about each new hire.
Pandora's Box
A third option that involves all employees is where employees, either individually or in groups, can write down a question, then all questions are collected in a box. Afterward, either the facilitator or the new hire pulls out a question, and the new hire answers it. It’s important that a colleague facilitates the process, so the new hire is not left on their own. Your new colleague doesn’t know the culture and might have trouble preparing for what questions will be asked. The facilitator is therefore the new hire’s lifeline and support to ensure a positive experience.
Getting to Know Each Other
Depending on the size of the department, you may choose to introduce everyone in the department when a new employee starts. One way to introduce yourselves is to have a name round, where everyone introduces themselves with their name and a fun fact about themselves, or something they each think they’re the only one who has/done/been etc. It could be that you think you’re the only one who’s backpacked in South America, or you’re the only one who speaks Chinese, or maybe you think you’re the only one who has 5 cats at home. By introducing yourselves with a fun fact, the new hire now has something unique to remember you by, and it can also spark conversation over lunch or at the coffee machine.
And finally, a good tip
As a new hire, you often step into unknown territory where you’re the only one who doesn’t know others or your culture. So, make sure that you facilitate a welcome that reflects who you are and your culture, and ensure there’s always a facilitator to guide the new hire through the activity in a safe way.
Do you need help with Onboarding?
We help new hires get the best start in their jobs so you can get the most out of your new colleague as quickly as possible. We help with onboarding programs for individuals and the development of tools and concepts that can help your new hires start strong in their new job. Read more here.
Contact us at talenton@talenton.dk or +45 4061 8029.
