15+ Essential Onboarding Templates & Checklists for Creating a Hassle-Free Process

Are you tired of struggling to keep track of all the tasks involved in onboarding a new hire?

Do you wish there was a better way to manage your onboarding process? Look no further.

Whether you're onboarding your first employee or your hundredth, having a set of templates and tools can help you stay organized and ensure a successful onboarding experience.

That's why we've compiled 15+ essential onboarding process templates, including checklists, surveys, and plans, to help you create a more streamlined and effective onboarding process. Plus, you'll be sure to provide a consistent experience for every new hire at your company.

• 🛫 1. Preboarding plan template
• ✅ 2. Onboarding checklist
• 📄 3. Paperwork checklist
• 🏢 4. Company onboarding template
• 💌 5. New hire welcome message
• 📊 6. Onboarding presentation
• 💪 7. Onboarding training template
• 💬 8. Team introductions
• 👯 9. Onboarding buddy program
• 👥 10. Buddy selection survey
• 📝 11. 30-60-90-day plan
• 👤 12. Role-based onboarding checklists
• 📜 13. Onboarding strategy template
• 🖥️ 14. IT onboarding template
• ❓ 15. Onboarding feedback survey

🛫 Preboarding plan template

The preboarding journey will give new hires the information on the most important things at the new company before officially getting started.
More importantly, the journey is not exclusively based on administrative processes. Instead, it includes social activities, so new hires can get to meet their team even before the first day.

What the preboarding template includes: Some activities included in the preboarding checklist are:

• Teaser of the office and general workplace.
• Intro to the company and company culture.
• Office address and first-day instructions.
• Practicalities: Working hours & vacation, work from home policy.
• Quick message on the day before day 1.
  

➡️ To make it even easier for you, we have created a ready-to-use Preboarding Plan Template. You can easily customize it and assign it right away.

✅ (Remote) Employee onboarding checklist

What the onboarding template includes: This onboarding checklist template breaks down everything you need to include in your onboarding process. From the moment the new joiner signs an offer letter all the way to their first annual review, we've got you covered.

It is specifically designed for remote and hybrid settings - but also works for office-only scenarios.

The onboarding template will guide you through the key onboarding tasks: 

• Before your new hire’s first day.
• First day of work checklist.
• After 30, 60, and 90 days.
• When onboarding is over.
  

When to use it: Use this template as a guide throughout the entire onboarding process for your new remote employees.

Why it matters: The new hire onboarding checklist gives you a complete overview of your new hire’s first six months. You’ll be able to visualize their entire onboarding journey so you can customize it to meet your company’s needs. The checklist also shows you when to use the other onboarding templates included in this article. 

➡️ Get the ultimate onboarding checklist template.

You prefer Excel?

➡️ Click here to access our freely customizable onboarding checklist template for Excel and Spreadsheets

📄 New employee paperwork checklist template

What the onboarding template includes: This guide covers four major categories of new employee paperwork to consider, as well as tips for complying with your local laws and making paperwork easier for new hires. 

When to use it: Track new employee paperwork from preboarding until all the requirements are met. 

Why it matters: Every new hire comes with what seems like a mountain of paperwork. Tax forms, employment eligibility, and paycheck information all need to be completed so the employee is compliant and paid properly. 

You can turn the onboarding paperwork template into a customized checklist for your organization, listing or linking to every piece of paper a new joiner needs. If you have employee onboarding software or another centralized platform for new hires, consider adding your paperwork checklist to the tool for easier access. 

➡️ Read the onboarding paperwork checklist guide.

🏢 Company onboarding template

Company onboarding is the process of introducing new hires to the organization overall.

What the company onboarding template includes: Setting expectations, tool-stack, key people policies (special focus on Learning & Development), company history, key organizational values and the pillars of the company culture.

Why it matters: Company onboarding gets new joiners up to speed on the company culture, policies, and products. Since this process isn’t tied to the responsibilities of a specific role, virtually every team member should participate in the same experience. The shared experience creates a strong first impression and lays the foundation for robust company culture.

➡️ To make it even easier for you, we have created a ready-to-use Company Onboarding Plan template. You can easily customize it and automatically assign it to all your new recruits.

💌 New employee welcome message example

What the onboarding template includes: This guide includes templates, tips, and examples for writing that perfect first message. It helps you consider: 

• How many emails to send a new hire
• What information to include
• When to send the emails
  

When to use it: Send welcome emails in between when the new joiner signs their offer letter and the end of their first day at the company. 

Why it matters: Your welcome message is your chance to make a great first impression. You want to give each new joiner the same experience, so work from a planned template to craft a welcome email or two, laying the groundwork for what they can expect as they join your company. 

➡️ Read: New employee welcome email guide. 

📊 Onboarding presentation template

‍What the onboarding template includes: This onboarding template covers everything you may want to include in new employee orientation, from company history and values to what a new joiner can expect in their first week. 

When to use it: Conduct your new employee orientation within the new hire’s first week, ideally on day one.  

Why it matters: Orientation helps lay the groundwork for a new hire’s entire time with your company. You’ll get them up to speed on the basics of your company and the onboarding process before handing them off to their team or manager for role-based onboarding. 

➡️ Get the onboarding presentation template.

💪 Onboarding training plan template

What the new-hire training template includes: This template has got you covered with all the essential information that new hires need to know to settle into their role and perform their duties to the best of their abilities.

What the onboarding training template includes: It contains essential knowledge, training, and skills that you want to equip new hires with, such as:

• company policies;
• role descriptions;
• starter projects;
• chain of command;
• standard operating procedures;
• orientation, integration, and performance review timelines.

When to use it: Use this onboarding training plan template to set new employees up for success from day one and guide them through their first few months or year on the job.

➡️ Download the template and make it your own with our fillable pdf training plan template.

💬 Team introductions examples 

What the onboarding template includes: You’ll find samples of all kinds of team introduction messages, such as: 

• Formal and informal introductions
• Welcoming multiple hires
• Introducing a hire to their home department or other departments
• Self-introductions for the new hire
  

You’ll also get tips for combining these tactics to make your new employee feel fully integrated into the workplace.

When to use it: Space out team introductions throughout the new hire’s first week. Depending on your company structure or new hire’s role, you may want to send out some introductions during preboarding. 

Why it matters: A strong welcome is critical to integrating the new employee into their team and the organization overall. These examples will help you fully bring your new hire into the fold. 

➡️ Get the team introduction templates. 

👯 Onboarding buddy program template

This ready-to-use buddy template allows you to run a complete onboarding buddy program that:

• connects new hires with their buddies,
• coaches both through the process,
• takes new colleagues by the hand.

Notifications are sent via Slack, Teams or Email, so your onboarding team, buddies and new hires receive information in the flow of work.

This journey is perfect to excite your new hires for their first day at your company.

All you'll need is:

• ⏰ 5 Minutes to set up
• 🖼 Images/videos of your team.
  ‍

💡 And if you need an extra resource, we have also prepared a sample buddy workflow which you can download as a PDF checklist here.

👥 Onboarding buddy selection survey template

What the onboarding template includes: To match your new hire to the right onboarding buddy, we’ve included surveys to understand the strengths and preferences of everyone in your program. 

When to use it: Introduce new hires to their onboarding buddies on day one. Have new hires fill out their onboarding buddy survey during preboarding, and invite current employees to join the buddy program by filling out their survey. 

Why it matters: Onboarding buddies offer a friendly face and informal knowledge about office norms, making new employees feel more at ease. Even better? Establishing an onboarding buddy program creates a better experience for new employees, improving both retention and time-to-productivity. 

➡️ Get the onboarding buddy survey templates.

📝 30-60-90-Day onboarding plan template

What the onboarding template includes: A 30-60-90-day plan gives you and your new hire action items for their first three months on the job. It takes them from general learning to role-based training to taking responsibility for their work. You’ll also get tips on setting goals for this time frame and 30 60 90 check in questions.

When to use it: Create the new hire’s 30-60-90-day plan during their first week. Check in and revise the plan at the 30, 60, and 90-day marks. 

Why it matters: Having a strong plan in place gives your new employee a sense of direction and purpose in their first weeks on the job. It also lays the foundation for a collaborative feedback culture between the employee and their manager. 

➡️ Get the 30-60-90-day plan template. 

👤 6 Role-based onboarding checklists and plans

What the onboarding templates include: These onboarding templates give you a complete look at the first three months and beyond for any new hire. You’ll get: 

• Task lists for each phase of onboarding
• Tips and best practices for training
• Role-specific 30-60-90-day plans
• Examples of effective onboarding
  

The sales and software developer onboarding checklists dive deeper into the specifics of onboarding and training for these teams. 

When to use them: Use these checklists in conjunction with the ultimate onboarding checklist to build both general and role-based onboarding processes to meet the needs of every team in your organization. 

Why they matter: Efficient onboarding is all about improving time-to-productivity while integrating the new hire into their team. Role-based training and onboarding helps accomplish both of those goals at the same time. 

Get the new hire training checklist templates: ‍

💸 Sales onboarding checklist‍

🆘 If you need a ready-to-use sales onboarding workflow, we got you.

🖥️ Developer onboarding checklist

Exemplary week of a new developer

Day 1: A warm welcome to the company

Day 2: An intro to your Products and Tech Stack

Day 3: Pair-programming challenges

Day 4: Prepping for 1:1s with the manager

Day 5: Helpful links to documentation

🆘 If you need a ready-to-use developer onboarding workflow, we got you.

🤝 Customer success onboarding: the first 90 days checklist

📊 Product manager onboarding checklist

📚 Training supervisor 90 day onboarding onboarding checklist

📈 Chief Marketing Officer 90 day onboarding plan template

📜 Onboarding strategy template

An effective onboarding strategy not only helps new employees get up to speed more quickly but also contributes to your organization's broader mission and goals.

If you're unsure of how to get started, using an onboarding strategy template can be a helpful tool. 

What the onboarding strategy template includes: You will find a comprehensive outline of the key components of an effective onboarding strategy, including strategic, and financial considerations, and key factors related to culture and exmployment experience. We also included key KPIs and metrics.

Our template will help you present your ideas clearly and concisely while demonstrating the return on investment (ROI) of implementing a structured onboarding process.

When to use it: This strategy template can be used at any point during the onboarding process, whether you're starting from scratch or looking to refine an existing process. However, it's particularly useful when seeking buy-in from stakeholders, as it provides a clear and compelling argument for the value of strategic onboarding planning.

Why it matters: Overall, an onboarding strategy template matters because it helps ensure that your onboarding process is effective and aligned with your organization's broader goals. 

Buy-in from management and other key organizational stakeholders is critical for creating an onboarding program that motivates your new team members.  

So you can use this template to present your ideas and gain support from key stakeholders. 

‍

🖥️ IT onboarding template

The IT onboarding process should be an essential part of your overall onboarding program.

What the IT onboarding template includes: Here are some of the IT onboarding tasks included in our template:

• creating corporate accounts;
• ‍setting up new employees with new tech and hardware;
• training them on how to use these tools;
• sending bite-sized sessions on security and compliance to your new hire so they can absorb the information;
• ensuring your new recruits know the security guidelines for these accounts and devices.

When to use it: Use this template as early as the preparation phase, when your new hire signs their new contract (as adefacto pre employment checklist template).

Why it matters: Having an IT onboarding checklist that is easily accessible and visible to all key stakeholders simplifies IT onboarding. In this way, all stakeholders can check what stage your new hire is at. For example, have they already received the equipment?

➡️ Download our IT onboarding template excel format.

❓ Onboarding feedback survey template

What the onboarding template includes: You’ll get questions and forms to measure the efficacy of your onboarding process. You can customize the questions to measure exactly what you want to. 

When to use it: Customize the frequency of employee feedback surveys to your onboarding process and company needs. 

Why it matters: Asking for regular feedback is essential to building an employee feedback system. Start establishing that pattern with new hires early by asking for and acting on feedback for their onboarding experience. 

➡️ Get the onboarding feedback survey template.

🚀 Automate your onboarding with Zavvy

With an employee enablement platform like Zavvy, you can host all your onboarding templates in one place.

Better yet? Connect and automate these templates to develop the smoothest and most effective onboarding process you’ve ever seen. 

Curious? Learn how it works here.