There’s nothing quite like receiving a warm welcome message to help overcome those first-day nerves when you start a new job. If you’re a manager or team leader, writing a well-crafted welcome message is a great way to create a positive first impression.
Not only does it help to make new employees feel included, it’s also a great way to build a positive workplace environment and increase engagement over the long run. If you’ve been tasked with penning a new employee welcome message, take a look at our tips on how to write a memorable first greeting.
Creating a positive, welcoming experience for your new team member provides benefits for not just the new staff, but also the team and the business as a whole. It’s an essential part of the onboarding process – your new team member’s first experience of the company culture. Before we dive into the details of how to welcome a new team member, let’s first look at the benefits of perfecting your welcome message.
A welcoming team environment can lead to improved job satisfaction and boosted productivity. By providing a heartfelt welcome, you can also:
So, while putting together a short welcome message might not seem that critical to you, it can have a lasting impression on your team member and their experience within your organisation, which can positively impact their performance, satisfaction and long-term commitment.
A warm welcome is important to new employees, which has a knock-on effect for the whole organisation. Making new employees feel welcome can provide a number of important advantages, like:
Lastly, creating an amazing first experience benefits the team as a whole by:
Providing an amazing first-day experience goes beyond writing a warm welcome email to new staff. In fact, there are a number of steps you can take to prepare for your new team member’s arrival, so they feel at home from their first day.
One of the best ways to wish a warm welcome to a new employee is by writing a sincere greeting message, whether in a card or in a group email. While it helps to work with a message template, it’s also worth personalising the message for your new team member. Express your gratitude to them for joining the company and show enthusiasm for their arrival.
Sending a well-written welcome message not only puts into practice people-centric values, it also helps to create a positive and inclusive environment where the new joiner feels comfortable asking for help when they need it.
Here are some examples of welcome messages and templates that you can use to craft your own note:
Now you know how to write a new staff welcome email, but when is the best time to send a welcome message? And what is the right medium? These days, you have so many different communication channels available to you at the workplace. If you’re in an office environment, you can write a card, send an email or write a group message via Slack or Teams. If you work together onsite, you could gather the team to extend an in-person welcome.
When it comes to choosing the best time to welcome your new team member, you’ve got a few options available. Some people like to touch base with their new employees a week or so before they officially begin. This is a great opportunity to provide an overview of important details, like their start date and any documentation or equipment they need to bring on their first day. You could also send them a welcome note on their first day to congratulate them and wish them luck.
A prompt welcome is important to an effective onboarding process. You should send a welcome email in advance of the new employee’s arrival or welcome them on their first day on the job – or both. In your welcome message, encourage them to get in touch with any questions while they’re settling in.
Writing a welcome message for new staff is an important part of the onboarding process, but it shouldn’t end there. More often than not, there’s lots to learn in a new role, so make sure that you’re providing on the job training and resources to help them be confident and competent in their role.
It’s also worth checking in regularly with new staff members during their first few weeks and months to see how they’re managing. You can use these regular check-ins as an opportunity to provide constructive criticism and address any concerns or issues they’re having. You should make it clear that they’re always welcome to contact you with any questions or concerns in return.
Lastly, don’t forget to celebrate the achievements and milestones of your team members old and new. Creating a positive workplace environment requires ongoing effort so that staff feel as valued and motivated as they did on their first day.
Writing a thoughtful welcome message for new team members is an essential part of the onboarding process. Not only does it help to create a positive first impression, but it fosters a supportive workplace environment for all, leading to increased job satisfaction, productivity and overall success for the team. By using our tips and templates, you’re sure to give your new team members the warm welcome they deserve.
A well-written welcome message should:
There are a few ways you can customise a welcome message template for a new staff member. Firstly, begin the message by addressing them by their name.
You could also highlight the specific skills and knowledge that the new individual will bring to the team. Similarly, you might reference their professional background and relate them to their new role in the team.
The best medium to deliver the message depends on a number of factors, like your company’s policies, your workplace culture and your individual preferences. If you’re looking to send a more formal welcome message that includes important information about the new team member’s first day, then an email might be the best way. For a more casual and interactive approach, a messaging app, like Slack or Teams, could be the way to go. If you work onsite together, you should welcome your new team member in person.
One of the best ways to evaluate the impact of your welcome message is to ask for feedback from the new staff member directly. You could use a quick feedback survey to see how they found the onboarding process and if they have any suggestions for improvement.
Starting a new job can be stressful, so give new team members some time to reply to your welcome message. If a few days have passed and you haven’t received anything, you may want to follow up with them to see how they’re settling in.
It could even be worth sending a follow-up message via a different channel just in case they haven’t received your original message. If you’d like to offer further support, set them up with a buddy for their first few weeks or schedule an in-person catch-up to see how they’re doing and if there’s anything else you can do to help.