Onboarding

Onboarding Process

• Design a structured onboarding process — don't leave new hires to figure things out on their own
• Prepare onboarding documentation: environment setup, codebase overview, team standards, common tools
• Have everything ready on day one: accounts, equipment, workspace, permissions
• Assign a small task in the first week so the new hire experiences the satisfaction of delivering something

Buddy System

• Assign a Buddy to every new hire
• The Buddy helps the new hire get familiar with the environment, answers questions, and introduces team members
• The Buddy regularly checks in with the new hire to understand how integration is going
• The Buddy period typically lasts 1-3 months

30-60-90 Day Plan

First 30 Days: Learn

• Get familiar with the development environment and toolchain
• Understand the team's workflow and standards
• Complete a few small tasks to get familiar with the codebase
• Have a conversation with every team member

Days 30-60: Integrate

• Able to independently complete medium-complexity tasks
• Participate in Code Review and start contributing feedback
• Understand the business context and system architecture
• Begin participating in technical discussions and design reviews

Days 60-90: Deliver

• Able to independently own a feature module's development
• Suggest improvements to the team's workflow
• Start mentoring newer team members (if applicable)
• Discuss future development direction with the manager

Feedback Mechanism

• Check in frequently during the onboarding period to catch problems early
• New hire feedback is the best source for improving the onboarding process
• If a new hire struggles, it's a process issue, not the new hire's fault