How to Make an Employee’s First Day Special

A new employee shouldn't be the only one trying to make a good impression on his or her first day of work. It's equally important for you to prove to the rookie that your company is great to work for. Your goal is to make him or her excited to come into the office the next day. Here is some advice on how to make an employee's first day special:

Make Thorough Introductions
During the introduction process, it's not enough to just have all your employees exchange names. If you really want to make your new staff member feel welcome, you should spend more time introducing him or her. In addition to telling your staff members the new hire's name, give more background about the person. For example, you could say something like, "Please welcome Brenda, our new public relations specialist. She has excellent people skills and will be a great asset to our company."

Provide Employee with Business Cards
To make your new employee feel part of the company right away, provide him or her business cards. When the rookie sees his or her named printed on one of these shiny cards, he or she will feel truly connected to your business.

Don't Provide Too Many Assignments
Although a new worker probably doesn't want to spend the day twiddling his or her thumbs, he or she likely doesn't want to be given a bunch of assignments at once. If you give an employee a heavy workload during the first day, the person may become flustered and worried about keeping up. Give the new hire just a couple of tasks to start off with, so he or she doesn't feel overwhelmed.

Buy Lunch
Making your employee's first day special can be as simple as buying him or her lunch. Everybody enjoys free food and he or she will appreciate the kind gesture. Also, be sure to sit with the new staff member during lunch, so the person isn't alone at a table. Ask the employee how his or her day is going and if he or she feels comfortable or not. If you ask these sorts of questions, the rookie will know you care about his or her well-being.

Give a Welcome Note
Another good way to make your new employee feel good is to give him or her a welcome note on the first day. According to Kevin Kruse, author of "Employee Engagement 2.0: How to Motivate Your Team for High Performance," a warm note shows an employee you care enough to prepare ahead of time for his or her first day. 

"Welcoming each newbie on their first day with a note is a great idea, but make sure it's the right note," Kruse explained in Forbes. "To make it effective, make it personal and focused on organizational values."

Assign a Mentor
According to Harvey Deutschendorf, author of "The Other Kind Of Smart, Simple Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence for Greater Personal Effectiveness and Success," it's a good idea to give a new employee a mentor. This person should show the new hire how things work around the office and be there to address questions and concerns.