12 November 2024 · ~ 7 minutes
Onboarding doesn’t have to be a series of boring presentations and paperwork. With a little creativity, you can make this first experience with your company exciting, welcoming, and engaging. Here are 9 creative ways to inject fun into your onboarding process that’ll help new hires feel like they’re part of something special from Day 1.
Think of your onboarding as an adventure, where the new hire embarks on a quest to discover the "treasures" of your company. From finding out the company mission to meeting key team members, each step of the process is a milestone in their journey. Many new hires often feel like there’s not much to do in their first week. Giving them a task helps increase feelings of fulfillment when they complete it and has the added bonus of integrating them into the company culture by exposing them to many different aspects of the business. According to a study, fulfilled, engaged and valued at work reduces employee turnover and helps retain talent. Create an interactive map with tasks or checkpoints (like discovering the best lunch spot or learning the company’s secret history).
Include unique, meaningful gifts to new hires that hint at the company culture. A personalised welcome letter and items that relate to your business could be a fun way to show your business personality and culture. While considering welcome items, it’s important to remember that most new hires at this stage may not necessarily feel an emotional attachment to your business yet and so something fun and useful like novelty gifts might be a better option. For example, leading life sciences company Eppendorf’s pipette shaped pens are so incredibly popular they’re hotly discussed on online forums.
If you have a distributed or global team, consider creating a virtual reality or 360-degree video tour of your office or workspace. They can navigate the space and learn about the company’s departments, history, and key locations—whether it’s the “zen room” where employees relax or the “innovation hub” where new ideas happen. If VR isn’t an option, even a creatively done 360-degree photo or video can have the same effect!
Instead of a standard template email, have the CEO of your business create a brief, engaging video message for new hires. This personalised video could include fun facts, the company’s origin story, and a few quirky, unexpected insights into company culture. If possible, CEOs can also host AMAs with new hires and answer questions unrelated to work. It’s a way for new employees to see the leadership team as approachable and for the CEO to feel connected to the new team.
Spice up the learning process with a pop quiz show format! Organize a fun, low-key trivia game where the new hire (and perhaps their team) answer questions about the company’s culture, mission, or values. You can make it interactive using online platforms or even do it live via Zoom. Winners can receive small, fun prizes like company swag or coffee gift cards.
Assign new hires a "buddy" from a different team or department and encourage them to complete a set of challenges together. This could include anything from eating lunch together to brainstorming ideas for a new project or even completing a fun office scavenger hunt. This fosters interdepartmental connections and helps them build relationships outside their immediate team.
Highlight relevant employee groups, channels, or communities your new hire can join, such as wellness groups, book clubs, or social networks for special interests. Encourage them to participate in group conversations and virtual events to foster social connection. If your organisation has employee resource groups (ERGs) based on gender, race, sexual orientation, or other shared identities, provide new hires with a chance to learn more about these groups and how they support both professional and personal development. Encourage new hires to join or attend an ERG event to connect with others who share similar interests or backgrounds. Also let them know they’re always welcome to kickstart a new club or social team within the business if they choose to do so.
For globally distributed teams, ensure that your onboarding process is accessible and inclusive for all. Offer a hybrid onboarding experience that combines virtual learning and interactive sessions with localised activities. For example, team members from different countries could host virtual tours of their cities or offices, offering a personal touch.
Highlight the diversity within your team by incorporating cultural celebrations and customs into the onboarding process. This could include introducing new hires to various cultural holidays, traditions, and global celebrations that are significant to team members. For example, a short "Around the World" session during onboarding where employees share stories about holidays, foods, or traditions from their home countries.
End the onboarding week with a fun wrap-up celebration. This could include a virtual or in-person happy hour, a lunch with the leadership team, or a casual “wrap-up party” where the new hire shares their favourite moments, funny mishaps, and insights from the week. It’s a great way to reflect, bond with the team, and kickstart the next phase of their journey.
Fun onboarding isn’t just about creating a positive first impression—it’s about setting the tone for long-term engagement, satisfaction, and success. By making the process interactive, personalised, and enjoyable, you’re helping your new hire feel welcomed, motivated, and ready to dive into their role.
After all, the first days at a new job are formative, and the experience you provide will shape how new employees view your company—and how likely they are to stick around for the long haul.
Delivering a positive onboarding experience for your new hires doesn't have to be complicated. Learn how you can create exceptional employee experiences, drive speed to competency and set your employees up to succeed.
