How to Give College Grads, New Hires a Warm Welcome to the Company

When a college graduate enters the workplace, it may be the first time they’ve ever worked for an employer. Naturally, recent grads will be nervous and uncertain about their new life as an employee, and it may take longer for them to settle in.

To help make the adjustment a little easier for college grads and new hires, you can give them a warm welcome to the company by doing the following key things:

1. Inform Your Staff About the New Arrivals Ahead of Time

New employees shouldn’t be a common occurrence for your company unless you’re expanding so fast that you have to conduct a mass hiring campaign. Other than that, your other employees will likely be surprised by the arrival of someone new.

If you don’t warn your staff ahead of time, it will become highly awkward for them to interact with each other, which will hurt your team.

Inform all your employees that someone new is coming and what their name is. It's best to conduct a meet-and-greet, so everyone can get to know them sooner.

2. Prepared Well for Their First Day

When you hire your new employee, ensure you have all the documents and starter papers they need to start their employment. You’ll look unprofessional and uncaring if you’re scrambling last minute to print their employee package.

Set up their workstation and their passwords ahead of time, and arrange to give them a tutorial of the system instead of forcing your new employee to suffer watching you get ready.

3. Ask Them to Report to Work at a Later Date

Sometimes it may be necessary, if you can't find the time to set up before your new employee arrives, to ask them to come back in an hour or a day or two later.

You should do this and tell them when to report for their first day at work when you have set up their workstation, scheduled their first shift, and all other work necessities.

Asking them to stay home last minute will frustrate your staff, so give them a good heads-up ahead of time, even if you won’t need it.

4. Welcome Them with a Gift

If you really want to cultivate a warm and friendly work culture in your company, then why not welcome your new recruits with a gift or company swag item as a kind and warm gesture?

When your new employee arrives, hand them a gift. It could be something as simple as congratulations flowers, notebook, or even a coffee mug. Explain to them how excited you are to have them at your company and why you think they’re going to fit in.

That will help boost your recent hires' moral and confidence. They’re likely already scared or nervous about being in a new environment and your gift can help ease their nerves.

5. Nominate a Workplace “Buddy”

Enlist one of your existing employees to help the new hire settle in the company. Just speak to one of you employees before the new hire arrives and ask them to be a “buddy” for the new hire. They can help the new hire better settle in and get the hang of the office environment.

Don’t spring this on your existing employee, especially not while the new hire is standing in front of them. That’ll only make thing uncomfortable for everyone. Ask them about it well beforehand.

Using the buddy system can ensure that your new grad hire has at least one friend and someone to talk to in the office, including about company rules, expectations and culture.

6. Introduce Them Officially to Everyone

Walking around the office can feel a little awkward for new hires if they haven’t yet been introduced to everyone in the workplace.

Either hold a meeting to introduce your new hire all at once or take the team or business out to lunch where applicable to make the introductions.

You may ask your team to introduce themselves to the new employee or ask their buddy to introduce them. However, you choose to make the introductions, make them happen.

7. Give Them Enough Work from the Beginning

During the first week, your new hire is probably going to work at the speed of sound. New hires, especially college grads, are looking to impress. They want to be seen as making a notable contribution in the workplace.

Give them enough work to do so as to really engage them. There’s likely something for them to do if you delegate work properly. Just don’t let them get bored, with nothing to do at work.

8. Provide Constrictive Feedback and Review

Feedback is essential for new employees because they want to know if they are doing their job the way it is expected of them.

At the end of their first week, tell them how you feel about their work ethic and skills, but don’t focus too much on their mistakes. They won’t be perfect in their first week.

Aim for the three forms of constructive feedback where applicable: appreciation (thanks), coaching (here's a better way to do it), and evaluation (here's where you stand).

After their review, shut the office down early (where applicable) and invite the entire office for drinks to congratulate the new employee and just strengthen team spirit.