6 ways to give a new employee a great induction

Hiring the right staff can be a bit of headache, but once you get the perfect people on board it can be all too easy to sit back, put your feet up and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

But really, it’s just the beginning of your journey with your new employees, and if you want it to be a positive one you'll need to start out on the right foot.

And a fantastic employee induction is a great way to start. 

What is an induction?

If you remember, in the old days the employee induction process was often confined to a dreary meeting room and consisted of a few handouts and some monotonous, sleep-inducing speeches. Or, it might have involved a quick chat with the boss, a tour of the building and a pointing out of where their new desk and the toilets were. In short – not very inspiring.

But, the process of onboarding a new staff member is vital as it helps to get them up to speed with the job, the practicalities of working for you, as well as company culture, your values and practices. 

Thankfully, things have moved on since then and you can be as creative as you like when it comes to welcoming new employees.

It’s not just about making them feel comfortable, it’s about fostering a positive relationship from the get go that will encourage loyalty, retention and productivity in the long term.

Understanding the induction process

Starting a new job can feel overwhelming, which is why a good induction matters. It begins before your new employee arrives and continues through their first day and early weeks, helping them feel welcome, supported and ready to settle in.

Here’s what it usually looks like:

• Pre-boarding
  This is everything you do before day one: a welcome email, intro to their manager or some practical info about what to expect. 

• Day one
  A warm welcome, a clear plan, and a friendly face can go a long way in helping them settle in and understand the basics of their role and team.

• Ongoing support
  An induction doesn’t end after day one. Regular check-ins, clear goals and consistent support keep your new employee feeling valued.

Importance of pre-induction planning

First impressions matter. Preparing before your new starter arrives shows you care and sets the tone for a confident start.

Pre-induction planning is all about making sure everything's in place so your new recruit can hit the ground running.

Here are a few ways to prepare

• Sort the essentials
  Make sure their desk, logins and kit are ready.

• Keep in touch
  A short email or call before they start can help ease nerves and build early connection.

• Share the plan internally
  Give colleagues a heads-up so they can give a warm welcome on day one.

• Plan their first day
  A schedule, a welcome chat and time to settle in all help make their first day feel smooth.

Handled well, pre-induction gives your new team member clarity, confidence and a sense of belonging from day one.

6 ways to give a new employee a great induction

1. Introduce them to the company vision & values

As important as the facilities tour is, it doesn't give you an idea of what the business really is. Providing a new starter with an overview of company vision, goals, culture & values is crucial to set the tone for their employment.

This can be delivered by senior leaders (if they have capacity, this is best delivered by leadership - culture filters from the top, after all) or by managers.

Either way, you don't want to miss an opportunity to communicate who you are - and why the business does what it does. Giving employees this information will help build their loyalty to the organisation. It'll also help them to truly understand their role, and their place in the SME. 

2. Pair them up with a buddy

Mentoring is a great way to get a newbie settled at your company and up to speed with your culture and ethos. It's also great for building strong inter-office relationships.

You can be creative as you like about how you assign your new staff to their mentors. At Netflix,  they give new employees bingo-style cards which get stamped each time they have coffee or lunch with co-workers. Once the card is filled, they get a prize.

We've trialled the buddy system ourselves and have found it's a very effective way of getting our new team members settled quickly and happily. 

3. Get them involved in the social side

Is there something you do regularly with your team - regular social outings or coffee mornings in the office? Or maybe a few people pop along to the pub after work on Fridays?

If so, it's a great idea to get your new team member involved and building connections with colleagues.

For example, the managers at Perkbox encourage their new team member push the beer trolley around the office on a Friday, handing out drinks to other employees. They believe it’s a great way for the new staff member to get to know the rest of the team and strike up a conversation or two.

4. Give them a welcome gift

Everyone loves presents, so what better way to welcome someone who is a little nervous than to give them a gift? You can be as generous or creative as you like: you could go for branded pens and a nice notebook (who doesn't love a bit of stationery?), sweets or or even go as far as arranging monthly goodie-subscriptions for them. 

For example, at Breathe we welcome every new member of staff with a 'swag bag': a lovely Breathe-branded bag with pens, notebooks, a t-shirt, stickers and a water bottle inside. It's proved to be a lovely surprise on a newbie's first day. 

If the budget doesn't quite stretch to this, a team lunch always works well, too. You could head out to a local restaurant or café, or all arrange to be in the office on the same day for a lunchtime catch-up.

5. Give them a holiday... before they start

We know what you're thinking. Why on earth would you give an employee a holiday before they've even had their first day?

Bear with us on this one.

This technique has already been adopted by several tech companies and is a great way of gaining the loyalty of the new staff member right from the start. These companies give their new staff members a set amount of cash to go and have a few days away so they're able to start their new job refreshed and relaxed.

If you don’t have the budget to do this, you could consider starting them mid-week to give them some time off between leaving their old role and starting a new one. Or consider making their start time a couple of hours after everyone else so they don’t feel overwhelmed. Perhaps even a day at a spa or a relaxing massage before they knuckle down at their desk or take them somewhere nice for lunch on their first day.

6. Get them noticed

Putting your new employee on the spot can seem a bit unfair, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. At Google, new hires are asked to tell an embarrassing story in front of their colleagues. It breaks the ice, guarantees a few laughs and gets conversations going.

At Google, new staff are called 'Nooglers' – as well as having hats with 'Noogle' on, they undergo intensive in-person training so senior managers and new staffers all have the same shared values. The process is very much about making them part of the team by ensuring the newcomers don’t go unnoticed.

In short, the best way to induct new employees into your business is to remember your culture & welcome them as best you can.

Support beyond the first day

A great induction doesn’t end at 5 pm on day one. The first few weeks are full of learning, so continued support matters.

Here’s how you can keep the momentum going:

• Regular check-ins
  Catch-ups with their manager or induction buddy give them space to ask questions.

• Clear expectations
  Set simple, short-term goals that help them build confidence and understand what success looks like early on.

• Encourage feedback
  Create space for honest conversations. What’s going well? What could be better? This helps improve the experience for future new starters too.

• Keep them involved
  Include them in team meetings, projects and socials so they feel part of the culture.

Continuing support beyond the first day shows your new hire that they matter and that you’re in it for the long term.

What makes a good induction programme?

A strong induction helps new hires feel welcome, supported and clear on what’s expected. Here’s what good looks like:

• Clarity
  Give your new recruit a clear idea of what to expect, from their schedule to their role.

• Company culture
  Share your values and ways of working so they feel part of something from the start.

• Mentoring or buddy support
  A familiar face helps ease nerves and gives them someone to turn to with questions.

• Two-way feedback
  Create space for honest conversations, so they feel heard and supported.

These simple touches help turn a first day into a great start and lay the foundation for long-term success.

Breathe's ultimate guide to recruiting & onboarding contains everything you need to know to seamlessly hire & onboard new starters - why not download the guide for free?