Onboarding cultures from top tech companies

by Startacus Admin

From articles on the questions to ask employees at an exit interview, through to the ways employers can create a bad hiring experience for jobseekers, we have been sharing a variety of top articles from our friends and startup career partners Jobbio over the last few months.
This week we share their recently published article on the best onboarding policies from top tech companies. Over to Alice Murray, content creator for Jobbio who had this to share...
Did you hear about the company that takes their workers on a free trip to San Fran during their first week? No? You better keep reading.
As the race for talent heats up company’s need to up their game. Its simply not enough to provide a new employee with a company laptop and a desk on their first day. Here are just some of the amazing onboarding perks that the world’s top tech companies are offering.
Buckle up for boot camp
Etsy puts all new employees through their paces at their one of a kind bootcamp. During the camp, all new starters rotate through every team in the organisation.
Naturally, they spend a week with the team that hired them. After that, they spend four to six weeks with various other teams so that they can become fully immersed in the company. Well, at least you’ll be able to learn everyone’s names.
Wine not?
It’s no surprise that Twitter has a fairly elaborate onboarding policy in place. When a new hire accepts a job offer Twitter begins the ”Yes to the desk” procedure. This is basically a 75 step process which covers everything from handoffs to setting up email addresses.
When a new hire arrives at their desk on Monday morning they are greeted with a Twitter t-shirt and a bottle of wine (happy days!). They also have monthly happy hour drinks on Fridays for new employees as well as staff lunches.
Buddy up
Social media company Buffer has a fully distributed team which means that they don’t actually have a central office. All of their staff work remotely which poses its own challenges for onboarding.
Each new hire is given three ”Buddies” who play different roles in their six-week onboarding; a Leader Buddy, a Role Buddy, and a Culture Buddy. New hires are introduced to their buddies before they start and frequently communicate with them throughout their ”boot camp experience.”
Get knitting
Pinterest has offices all over the world. Despite this fact, all newbies are brought to their San Francisco office for their official onboarding.
Before new hires arrive, they receive an introductory email with their schedule and are given the opportunity to introduce themselves to the company. All new hires met for breakfast on the first day before taking part in icebreakers.
New recruits are encouraged to take part in ”knitting” – a Pinterest term used to describe collaborating with people and seeing things from a different point of view (so you can leave your needles at home!).
Microsoft Mentors
Every week Microsoft holds New Employee Orientation or NEO for new hires. At the NEO the company runs through things like health insurance, holiday time and IT protocol. Of course, there are a few cringey icebreakers thrown in for good measure.
Most Microsoft starters are assigned a mentor who will be your go-to person if you have any questions. They really encourage an inquisitive culture so there’s no such thing as a dumb question (within reason).
About Startacus and Jobbio
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
The early-stage NI startups selected to pitch at LEVELUP 2021, the 2-day event taking place on 21-22 April as part of Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week have now been revealed...

Aimear Lynch, founder of My Pet Lamb and one of our Impacting Founders gives us the lowdown on her eco-conscious startup and business journey to date

The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!

Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week

Kellie McCord from Toastmasters International shares some tips on a few of the key things you should consider to make sure that the online experience is inclusive and easier for more people

Thinking about embarking on currency trading? Here are some basic tips that will help you do just that...

The innovative Brighton-based startup, Naurt, that has created a plug-and-play toolkit for high-precision, beacon-free tracking

Thinking of using email marketing to promote your startup? Here are a few of the key things to consider when doing just that...

The lowdown on Fleex, the startup that helps companies provide remote employees with all they need to make working from home more comfortable

Judging panel now revealed for the LEVELUP startup pitch comp for early stage NI startups taking place at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week - entries open until 10th April
Published on: 5th February 2018
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Startacus brings virtual speed networking to Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week 2021 12th Apr 2021 The latest addition to the LEVELUP agenda is an online Speed Networking event, in partnership with Allstate NI and powered by Netminds. Come along and make new connections!
- LEVELUP bags Digital DNA as media partners 12th Apr 2021 Digital DNA, leading lights in the NI Tech and Business community announced as media partners for the LEVELUP events at Derry & Strabane Enterprise Week
- Huge rise in dog weddings leads Feast It and Poppy’s Picnic to launch dog wedding planning service 31st Mar 2021 "Mutt-rimonials" are on the horizon thanks to Woof Weddings, the UK's first dedicated wedding planning service for dogs
- Manual, the innovative Men’s Health platform Raises $30M Series A 31st Mar 2021 Manual secures major investment to help with product development and international expansion and its overall mission to become the global destination for men’s health