Wondering how to welcome a new employee to the team? Start by putting yourself in their shoes.
Taking a new role in an unfamiliar work environment is a lot like being the new kid at school — they tell you where your locker is and which classes you’re taking, but what you really want to know is how you’re supposed to act and what the social norms are. Do the cool kids raise their hands in class, or should you wait to answer the teacher’s questions? How will you make
It sounds silly at first, comparing your new hires to seventh graders, but think about it: Don’t you feel better when you know what’s expected of you? That’s what makes good onboarding, and good onboarding matters. In fact, 69% of employees are more inclined to stay with a company for at least three years if they had a great onboarding experience.
The right welcome messages and what they say
When you're sending a welcome letter to a new employee on their first day, every word you say matters. What do you want them to know? What do you want them to believe about their talents and potential? Think about the key ideas you want them to take away from your message:
Inspire them to be a change-maker
It’s easy for new employees to feel like they have to keep their heads down and do things the way they’ve always been done. Tell your new hires that you welcome their fresh perspectives and that you hope they’ll inspire some positive changes.
Empower them to experiment
Being the "new kid" is always a little bit scary. People spend the entire interview process putting their best foot forward, and sometimes that means they walk in thinking they have to be perfect. You don’t want your new colleague starting off with that mindset. If they’re afraid, they won’t take chances. If they feel comfortable with making mistakes, they’ll experiment and maybe come up with your next great ideas.
Demonstrate your growth mindset
If you’re the kind of company that believes in developing the talents of all your employees, congratulations — you have a growth mindset, and your workforce is more likely to be engaged. Start your new hires off right with a welcome note that tells them on their first day that you're there to help them reach their potential.
Let them know you're here for them
Who wouldn’t want to hear "We’ve got your back" on their first day at work? Instead of being the lone newbie, your new employee will immediately feel like a valued member of the team. They’ll be ready to ask for help and use their talents to support others’ success.
Tell them you value their perspective
30 'Welcome to the team' messages [examples]
Feel free to use the following welcome messages as a template, and make them your own:
"Welcome to the team, [new employee’s name]! We only hire people we believe will make a difference here, and we’re proud to count you among that number. We look forward to helping you make waves."
"Welcome to our team, [name]! We value the talents and ideas of everyone on our team, especially our new hires. We can’t wait to see what you’ll make happen."
"Thanks for joining our team, [name]. We chose you from among all of our applicants because we believe that you’ll do great things with us. We hope you’ll always feel free to innovate, share your thoughts and help your teammates realize their ideas."
"Welcome to the team, [name]! Our company is growing and changing every day and we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride. Please make waves — it’s why we hired you."
"Congratulations and welcome, [name]! We can’t wait to see how you’ll shake things up around here."
"Congratulations and welcome aboard. We hand-picked you because we know you’ll help us rise to the next level, and we hope you’ll always feel free to take chances in your work."
"Thank you so much for accepting the job offer with [company] — we hope you’ll feel right at home here. Never feel shy about sharing your thoughts and ideas — they’re why we brought you on board."
"Welcome, [name]! There’s no one in the whole world like you, and we’re proud to have you as a part of the team. We look forward to learning and growing with you in the years to come."
"Congratulations on taking the next step in your career! We see great things in your future — that’s why we hired you. We hope you’ll ask questions, make mistakes and try new things, so we’ll all reach new heights together."
"Welcome to the team, [name]! You're a great addition to the team, and we know you’ll accomplish amazing things here — we wouldn’t have hired you if we didn’t believe that. We look forward to supporting you along the way."
"Congratulations on the new position, and many good wishes for your first day at [company name]. We want you to know that we believe in you and we’re behind you in everything you do here."
"A warm welcome from the whole team here at [company]. We’re always working to build a strong, passionate and communicative team, and we believe that you’ll fit right in with us."
"Congratulations and welcome to [company], [name]! We’re confident that we’ll all work well together in the weeks and months to come, and we hope you’ll always feel comfortable asking us for help — just like you’ll be there to support those who work with you."
"Welcome and congratulations, [name]! We choose our team members carefully because when we on-board someone, we commit to their success. We look forward to helping you do the best work of your life with us."
"Welcome to the team! We know that starting a new job can be intimidating, so we wanted you to know that we’re here to support you. You’re a part of a team now, and we know you’ll do great things here."
"Welcome, [name], and thanks for choosing [company] as your next work home. You’re one of us now and we couldn’t be prouder."
"Welcome, [name], we’re proud that you chose to join our team. We were thrilled to find someone with your abilities, ideas and great attitude."
"We’re so happy to have you on our team, [name]. We’re pleased you decided to join us, and we hope you’ll come to us for help when you need it. We know we’ll be turning to you when we need your unique talents — the ones we hired you for."
"A warm and enthusiastic welcome to you, [name]. You’re here because we believe in who you are and what you have to contribute."
"Welcome to our unique, collaborative, dynamic and energetic team! We chose you because all of those words apply to you, so we know you’ll fit in perfectly with us."
"Warmest of welcomes, [name]. You bring a unique perspective and background to our team, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do with it. Always feel free to ask us for help — we’re here for you!"
"Welcome to our team! We brought you on with us because we saw something special in you — a fresh eye that can help take us to the next level. We know you’ll make waves and we’re committed to supporting you every step of the way."
"A great big thank-you to you, [name] — we’re thrilled that you’re bringing your unique perspective and background to our team."
"Welcome aboard! We hand-picked you to join our team because we believe in you and what you have to offer. Ask questions, share ideas and keep doing what you do."
"We’ve never had someone quite like you on board, and that’s a huge compliment around here! We love your uniqueness and can’t wait to see what you’ll make happen."
"Congratulations and best wishes on your first day, [name]! We love our new hires because you bring a perspective we’ve never had before. We hope you’ll speak up, push us to new heights and share your thoughts. That’s what helps us grow!"
Choosing your new employee welcome message
The most important thing is that your welcome messages get the person excited to work with you and your team. Remember, a new team member only gets one first day, so make it count!