An employee’s first day can often be filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Likewise, these feelings can also be present for current team members, managers, and HR professionals welcoming the new hire. To ease these first-day jitters and ensure the transition goes smoothly for everyone, it’s important to prepare ahead of time. Before the big day gets here, go over these eight tips to prepare for a new employee’s first day.

Set up the new employee’s email and other accounts

Before a new hire’s first day, be sure to set up the necessary accounts and login credentials they will be using – their email address, company portal, intranet or other relevant internal platforms, and computer password. This will guarantee they’re able to stay up to date with any pre-hire information being sent here and save time when they’re ready to get started accessing these accounts.

Prepare the new employee’s workspace

If your new hire’s desk has recently been used as the company storage unit or spare desk collecting dust during the search for a new employee, it’s time to clean it off and make it both presentable and usable. This means you’ll want to clear off any unnecessary items and double check that the desk features a working chair, outlets, etc. Be sure to also sanitize all materials if necessary.

Supply the proper technology

Does your new hire have the computer that they need? What about the charger, monitor displays, and mouse to go with it? A company desk phone or cellphone? Before an employee's first day, it’s important to supply the proper tools they need to ensure they can get started on their first task without any hiccups. This is especially true for remote or hybrid employees that might not actually be in the office for their first day.

Share directions/parking information

If your new hire has yet to actually visit the office before their first day – whether it be because of a virtual interview process or other reason – you might need to give them the rundown on driving directions, parking, and public transportation. Let the new hire know the best route to get to the office and where they can expect to park, including reserved spot information or required garage codes. In the event that the new employee is not familiar with the surrounding location, this can help them feel more comfortable about arriving on their first day and answer any questions they may have had.

Set up day-of logistics

A new employee’s first day of work shouldn’t be filled with last minute decisions or scrambling to get organized. Before the day arrives, work through the logistics with your team on who will be welcoming the new hire into the office, giving them a tour, making introductions, and answering their questions. If you're operating on a hybrid schedule, you’ll want to make sure your new hire’s first day aligns with the appropriate person’s in-office days in order to complete these steps.

Prepare a welcome package

Who doesn’t love free stuff? Aside from the necessary tools needed like their company computer, don’t forget to welcome your new employee with some customized company swag! T-shirts, water bottles, pens, and notebooks sporting your company name and logo are all practical items that an employee can use at work or home to help them feel more connected to the company culture and identity.

Confirm the new employee brings necessary documents

Streamline your new hire’s first day by having copies of their documents ready to go. This may include an I.D, social security card, bank information, and other official documents to verify their identity, set the employee up on payroll, enroll in benefits, etc. Preparing these documents beforehand ensures your new hire will not have any issues getting paid or eventually signing up for different company policies.

Send a welcome email

Last but not least, don’t forget to send out a welcome email to your new employee. Be sure to include information on what they can expect from their first day, the necessary items they should bring, and of course, contact information if they need to reach you with any questions or concerns. This will ease any uncertainties the employee may have and serve as a checklist for their first day.

Still searching for your next hire? Nexus can help! Our team of experienced hiring professionals works closely with candidates to find the perfect match for job-seekers and organizations alike. Contact us today to get started.

Eight Tips To Prepare For A New Employee’s First Day