Enhance New Hire Experience with These Onboarding Tips

The long tedious process of finding new talent for your team is finally over. Congratulations on selecting a highly qualified and enthusiastic candidate for your position! Now, a new set of challenges awaits for employee onboarding and your team is motivated to set them off on the right foot. Your talent will need help and resources every step of the way. Building a stellar onboarding kit will surely prove to be priceless. Let’s dive into the process and some tried and true helpful onboarding tips to promote employee engagement and employee retention. Following these steps will assure that your new teammate feels supported, connected, prepared, and excited to embark on their journey with your company. 

 New hire welcome gifts will make your new talent feel appreciated and supported

For each step of the employee onboarding process, an onboarding kit can equip them with the resources they will need to succeed. Things like company swag and custom office supplies will go a long way. Let’s take a closer look at what items are helpful along the journey. 

1.  Before their first day: Welcome your talent with a new hire swag box

Demonstrate that your organization has cultivated a culture of celebration. Including positivity, gifts, or warm welcomes and notes, will enhance that first first impression of your brand. Send them new hire welcome gifts along with that formal email outlining first steps of their onboarding. The items in your new hire swag box can be just for fun, and also practical to help them stay organized and on task. 

Items that are excellent for branded gifts before their onboarding:

1. Sustainable branded tote bag

2. T-shirt or hoodie to show off to their friends and family

3. Custom office supplies that are sustainable and practical

4. Branded snacks and tasty treats (be sure to check dietary needs)

Included in your pre-onboarding package can be anything that is needed on their first day at work. Take some time to think about all the activities involved in those first few hours at a new job. Be creative about what you include in the new hire swag box. Social Imprints can help you think of exciting new ways to treat your new team members like royalty. 

2. During the Onboarding: Gift to encourage employee engagement

If your new talent is a remote worker, then it’s great to include all the gifts in one onboarding kit. But if your new hire is coming into work and meeting the team, then it’s better to have something there waiting for them as well. Don’t be afraid to spread the gifting around throughout the employee onboarding process. It will encourage bonding and employee retention.

Some company swag gifts that are great to give “in person” at work:

1. Branded mug, water bottle, or tumbler

2. Branded desk organizing set to help them stay organized

3. Swag pens or writing utensils

4. High quality and sustainable notebook

5. Greenery like plants in attractive branded pots and displays

6. Fun things like branded mouse pads or other desk accessories

7. Eco-friendly backpack so they can work on the go

Opportunity for games and scavenger hunts with branded gifts: One creative way to utilize gift giving for team bonding is to incorporate games and scavenger hunts. For example, you could set up meetings with different departments or individuals the new hire will work with. Each meeting can have a little surprise, or activity that would lead to them getting something they need. There are so many possibilities to make the first day of work fun and memorable for the entire team!

3. Follow up and check in: Secure employee retention with branded gifts

After your new hire has been at the company for a few months, things are starting to settle in. Don’t get too comfortable. Your new talent is testing your brand just as much as you are evaluating them. Schedule one on one meetings to make sure their needs are being met and that they are feeling great at work. A new hire swag box can drive a positive message home. You appreciate their hard work and want to keep them on your team for the long haul. 

Company swag gifts that will make your new hire feel appreciated:

1. Branded T-shirts of various sizes so the whole family can enjoy

2. Laptop cases and covers to show off their allegiance wherever they go

3. Computer accessories like chargers and accessories

4. Any work apparel that is needed for their job, like branded PPE

5. Tasty treats for the whole family (be sure to check dietary needs)

Having an exceptional onboarding kit for your new hires is an investment in the future. In the competitive landscape of the corporate world, it’s important to demonstrate that you value your people. Beyond that, you want to send the message that life in your company is good, and that you take care of your talent. Gift giving is a powerful way of sending clear messaging that is positive. If you want to learn more about why gift giving is so important, check out The Psychology of Giving Corporate Gifts: Understanding Their Emotional Influence

These are a few onboarding tips to start your new hire in the right direction. For help with designing the perfect new hire welcome gifts, reach out to bizdev@socialimprints.com and one of our product specialists will be in touch!