Onboarding

With all the paperwork done, we can get down to the most important part: the onboarding! It's key to take care of a soft landing for new colleagues. They will be up to speed faster and feel more at home.

As a leader, you have a crucial role in this. We have many tools available. The challenge for you is to take these tools, maybe add a touch of creativity, and make it a great onboarding. We ask you to take this seriously and don't underestimate the importance of a proper and fun onboarding. People checks in with the new colleague after a few weeks. When onboarding is lacking we will provide you with this feedback so you can do something about it.

Before starting date

  1. To let your team member know we can’t wait for him/her to start, you can write and send a personal ‘Welcome to Guidion’ card by post and keep in touch. Go to Anna for a card.

  2. Find a buddy for the new colleague. Tips for choosing a buddy: someone to ask the ‘silly’ questions to, who knows a lot about Guidion, who works in the same team or with whom the new colleague often will work.

  3. For the new colleague, it's nice to know in general terms what is expected of him/her in the first month. Send an email a week before he/she starts with how the first day will look like. For example: what time the new colleague is expected and does he/she needs to bring lunch. Tip for the email: introduce the buddy in the cc, so that the buddy can respond to this email by briefly introducing him- or herself.

  4. In preparation of the first working day, make sure you have filled in the blanks in the onboarding checklist (available on Trello). Anna will share both of you in the onboarding checklist.

  5. Optional fun extras; we recommend inviting the potential colleague in before he/she actually starts working. This way your new colleague can get to know the team in an informal way. For example on a Friday afternoon, during a strategy session, PBQ, a teambuilding session or during Drinks/Targets/Doekoes.

  6. The night before the first workday is the most exciting moment for the potential colleague. He or she can think; "Have I made the right decision?". Send a Whatsapp and reassure him/her!

First day

The moment you have been waiting for is finally there: the first day! This is exciting for you, for the team and especially for the new colleague! In order to make your new team member feel at home, you give him a warm welcome. You can do this by:

  1. Greet the colleague with a welcome package (to be picked up at Facility).

  2. Introduce the buddy.

  3. Kick-start the day with a team activity (e.g. a breakfast or team lunch) to get to know the team members better.

  4. Prepare your new team member for a moment of fame at the Daily (and yes, it's in English).

  5. Le Tour du Guidion; make sure the new colleague can quickly find his/her way within Guidion and introduce your new colleague to everyone you meet!

  6. Meanwhile, pick up the laptop (and other devices) together and get an explanation from Service Delivery and check together if all accounts are working.

  7. Go through the onboarding checklist (available on Trello) together.

  8. Plan a moment at the end of the day to check-in how your new team member has experienced his/her first day at Guidion.


New experiences are really nice, but also take time to process. So make sure your new team member goes home on time and has a good night's sleep!

First week

The first day is over, but actually you have just started. Give (together with the buddy) the new team member the attention he needs by answering questions, tell everything you know about Guidion and have regular check-in moments.

First month

You are already working together for a couple of weeks. Fortunately for you, new eyes see new things. So grab this opportunity to ask for feedback about the way we do things. But it also works the other way round. You can do this in between but it is also smart to take a moment at the end of the first month to evaluate together. This helps you both in future collaboration and goal setting. On the other hand, it is nice for the new colleague to know that he/she is on the right track.

'Welcome to Guidion' afternoon


Every second Friday of the month, a 'Welcome to Guidion' afternoon is organised for all new colleagues (alternately for permanent colleagues and on-call workers) who started working in the past month. During this afternoon, together with members of the Leadership Team, we talk about the Red Thread, entrepreneurship and our culture and history of Guidion. Anna facilitates this meeting and makes sure all new colleagues are invited.

Happy check


Happy check - In the first month People checks in on the new colleague; is everything going well? Are there any questions? Does the colleague know what is expected of him or her and is he or she succeeding in setting the first goals? The first period Anna is going to ask for feedback, to hear whether the things we have changed are also perceived as pleasant.

Probation period


The first month is formally considered the probationary period (based on a one-year contract). Make sure you sit down before the end of the first month, to bring the probation period to a successful end. If, unfortunately, things don't work out as expected and there is no culture and/or job fit, get Marijn involved in time to discuss the situation. And if necessary, terminate the contract within the probationary period.