Here is our list of the best online onboarding ideas.
Online onboarding ideas are activities and processes to help new hires acclimate to your company culture. For example, personalized emails, mentoring programs, and weekly check-in meetings. These ideas aim to guide new employees who are beginning a new remote job at your company.
These ideas are similar to examples of team building activities for short term projects and strategies to make online meetings fun.
This list includes:
- online employee onboarding ideas
- online onboarding activities
- fun ways to introduce new team members on Zoom
- online onboarding events
Let’s get to it!
List of online onboarding ideas
Online onboarding can help you effectively bring new employees onto your team. Here are a few ideas for online onboarding to welcome and introduce new hires.
1. Personalized email
When a new employee first joins your company, your human resources department will send many emails that cover technical aspects, such as tax forms, login information, and important resources.
In addition to the typical procedural emails, we recommend sending a personalized welcome email to your new employee. Your welcome email should include a general welcome message and an outline of your new employee’s first day of work. You should also include contact information for your company’s technology help desk in case your new team member has technical issues on their first day.
Personalized emails can help show your new employee how excited you are to have them join the team. These communications are also great for providing support and guidance before your employee’s starting date.
2. Welcome video
Employees may find it difficult to make genuine connections with other team members in a remote work environment. A welcome video is a great way to help your new hires grow familiar with soon-to-be teammates.
In your new hire welcome video, you should include a brief overview of your company and messages from each team member. If you want your new employee to feel extra special, then we recommend including a note from your company’s CEO.
Making a custom welcome video is a creative way to leave a good impression on your new employee from day one.
3. Remote onboarding landing page
Virtual onboarding landing pages are one of the best online employee onboarding ideas. You can create your new employee landing page on your company’s intranet, so the site is only accessible to current employees. In addition, your landing page should be the destination for essential tools and resources.
Here are a few examples of critical information to include in your virtual onboarding landing page:
- Login information
- Organization hierarchy
- Training courses
- Frequently asked questions
- Contact information
Your internal webpage should serve as a guide to support new employees in their first few months. In addition, your new hires should be able to use this page as a quick reference for any questions regarding their new workplace.
4. New hire welcome basket
One of the most exciting ways to welcome new members to your team is by mailing them a welcome gift basket. Your gifts should be a combination of company swag and office supplies.
Here are a few items to include in your welcome gift basket:
- Tee shirt
- Hat
- Pens
- Notepad
- Post-it notes
- Snacks
Sending a gift basket is a great way to integrate new hires into your company culture before they begin working. Your incoming team members will be excited to start using their gifts, and owning company swag can instill a stronger sense of belonging to the virtual workplace.
5. Online onboarding mentoring program
If you are looking for online onboarding activities, then we recommend creating an online onboarding mentoring program. Mentoring programs are vital for remote employees who are new to the company. Through these programs, new hires can quickly connect with their teammates while seeking valuable advice.
If you want your new employees to feel welcome and supported, then we suggest launching a team or company-wide mentoring program. To create your team’s mentoring program, we recommend pairing up new hires with more experienced mid or senior-level team members. Each pair should meet every month to discuss topics such as:
- Career growth
- Professional accomplishments
- Personal milestones
- Skill development
- Areas of improvement
As part of the program, the mentor’s role is to provide guidance and support, whereas the mentee’s role is to ask questions and take their mentor’s advice. Messaging tools like email and Slack can help mentors and mentees feel more connected. In addition, having a mentor at work can help employees feel more comfortable while easing their nerves about starting a new job.
6. Virtual icebreaker events
Icebreaker events are one of the most interactive and fun ways to introduce new team members on Zoom. To organize an icebreaker event, schedule a 30-minute Zoom call with your team. Then, you can use your time to introduce each other and play icebreaker games.
For example:
- Charades
- 20 questions
- Fun facts
- Never have I ever
- Two truths and a lie
Playing these games will help all team members get to know each other better. Building connections is critical in a remote work environment, and icebreaker events are the perfect way to make your team feel more united.
Check out this guide to running good virtual icebreakers.
7. Social media announcement
Sharing a new hire announcement on your company’s social media channels is a great way to get your new employee excited about their upcoming job.
When putting your post together, include a recent picture of your new team member and a few words about why you are excited to have them join your team. You can also include a positive message wishing the hire luck in their new role. We recommend sharing your social media post after your new employee officially starts working at your company.
Social media announcements are a unique onboarding experience that can showcase your company’s positive culture. Plus, your teammate is sure to appreciate the shout-out.
8. E-Newsletter introduction
If you are looking for a quick and effective way to introduce your new employee, then we recommend giving your new hire a company-wide shout-out. Company newsletters are typically used to provide organizational news and updates, making these internal communications perfect for new employee introductions.
Your newsletter introduction should include key details, such as your employee’s name, experience, and a fun fact. Newsletter announcements are an ideal way to make new hires feel welcome while introducing them to the entire company.
9. Online chat group
Setting up an online chat group is a great way to motivate employees to connect. In addition, instant messaging allows employees to get in touch fast than emailing, making online chats a great way to build connections quickly.
Platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams are great avenues to start your group. To create your team’s online chat, start a group message and add the names of all employees who should join. You should treat the online chat as a digital lounge where team members can go for a lighthearted conversation with peers. We recommend motivating your team to actively participate in the group by sending funny messages, emojis, and GIFs.
10. Remote coffee breaks
Coffee breaks provide a fun and casual setting for your new hire to get to know the team. A coffee break is a short informal meeting where employees can catch up with each other. Instead of discussing work topics, team members chat on a more personal level. For example, teammates can talk about recent milestones, such as buying a house or adopting a pet.
Coffee breaks are fun online onboarding events that can help new employees get to know their coworkers on a personal level. This activity also provides a nice break in the day to relax and recharge over a cup of coffee.
Read about remote coffee breaks.
11. Goal-planning session
One of the best online onboarding activities is a goal-planning session. The ideal time to conduct a goal-planning session is during their first few days on the job. Planning goals early in the role can help employees feel motivated from day one.
To effectively conduct a goal-planning session, schedule a Zoom meeting with your new hire. During your call, share a blank Google Doc with your employee. On the blank document, you can both list goals and realistic timeframes.
A few examples of goals:
- Make 20+ cold calls by the end of this week
- Answer 50+ client calls by the end of this month
- Send 75+ outreach emails to potential customers by the end of this month
- Schedule a chat with two coworkers by next month
- Meet with the department’s director by next month
Setting goals within a realistic timeframe is an ideal way to motivate employees to achieve success beginning from day one.
12. Company trivia quiz
If you want to teach your employee about their new company and teammates, then we recommend creating a company trivia quiz. A company trivia quiz is a game where players must answer questions about the organization.
Here is what a company trivia quiz might look like for a new hire on the marketing team:
- In what year was our company founded?
- Who is our current CEO?
- What is our company’s slogan?
- How many members are on our marketing team?
- Which marketing team member manages our social media channels?
- What was our marketing budget for last year?
Company trivia quizzes are a great way to teach new employees all about your company and the specific department they are joining.
Check out more online trivia games.
13. New hire scavenger hunt
Games are a fun and interactive way to get your team thinking critically. We suggest organizing a virtual scavenger hunt for your new hires as part of their onboarding activities. For the scavenger hunt, you should include activities and tasks that teach new hires about your company.
For example:
- Find our mission statement on the company website
- Choose a song that best describes your first day on the job
- Look for a picture of the CEO on the company website
- Locate the company’s technical support number for employees
- Message an employee who has been with the company for ten years on Slack
- Search for all of the company’s social media channels
New hire scavenger hunts are a great way to promote a fun and welcoming culture while educating new employees about your company.
Here are more Zoom scavenger hunt ideas.
14. Live Q&A sessions
Monthly question-and-answer sessions are a great way to ensure new employees have a forum to ask questions. These sessions give a clear and open line of communication, providing easy access to employees who can answer all questions.
To organize a live Q&A session for new hires, find three to five experienced employees willing to contribute to a panel discussion. If you can get senior-level leaders to join the panel, then this is an excellent opportunity to show that your company’s leaders value transparency. Be sure to coach panelists on tackling tough questions or pivoting to lighter topics if needed.
You should begin your session by briefly introducing your employee panelists. Next, you can ask each panel member to share their name, title, and how many years they have been with the company. Then, it would be best if you opened up the floor to all attendees. We suggest encouraging team members to ask any questions regarding projects, processes, or career growth.
Question-and-answer sessions are a valuable onboarding activity that can help new employees connect with teammates while getting their questions answered in real-time. Even if new team members are too shy to ask questions, they can still benefit from hearing the resulting discussion.
15. Weekly check-ins
In a traditional office environment, employees can knock on their manager’s door with questions. In a remote workplace, however, instantaneous communication may become more difficult.
We suggest setting up weekly one-on-one meetings to ensure your employees feel supported. You can use this time to check on critical projects, assign new duties, and answer any outstanding questions. Weekly touchpoints are also a great way to help new hires transition to their new workplace.
We recommend checking in every week, even if you can only chat with each other for five minutes. You can also use this time to check how your employee feels from a personal perspective. By setting up a consistent time to meet with your team members individually, you show your employees how you are committed to supporting them in their roles.
16. Remote workspace budget
If you want to help your new team member feel excited about beginning their job, then we recommend providing a stipend for work-from-home essentials. For example, with a budget and funds, employees can decorate their home offices.
Items might include:
- Sit-to-stand desk
- Ergonomic desk chair
- Dual monitors
- Laptop riser
- Keyboard and mouse
- Whiteboard
When employees feel comfortable at work, they will deliver amazing results. Providing your team with funds to upgrade their home workspace will allow employees to create a space where they can be productive and efficient.
17. Online onboarding survey
Once your new employee has completed their onboarding process, we suggest asking them to complete an online onboarding survey. These surveys can help you collect direct feedback and input to evaluate the remote onboarding process.
Here are a few questions to include in your survey:
- On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate our company’s onboarding process?
- What did you like most about your virtual onboarding experience?
- If you could change one thing about onboarding, what would you change?
- Did you feel adequately supported throughout the hiring and onboarding processes?
- After going through onboarding, would you recommend our company to candidates?
Surveys are a great way to collect feedback. After gathering this information, we recommend using these new hire insights to improve your onboarding process for future employees further.
Conclusion
A positive and informational online onboarding experience is critical in employee turnover and retention. New employees often decide whether they are happy with their new company in their first 45 days on the job. A strong onboarding program is essential in remote work environments because this experience provides new employees with their first taste of the company culture. So, we recommend planning a full series of virtual activities and events to help new hires get a positive feel for your company.
Online onboarding ideas include personalized emails, mentoring programs, and icebreaker events. When planning your online onboarding experience, your goal should be to showcase your welcoming and inclusive company culture.
Learn about more ways to refresh your onboarding process for new employees.