Experienced hires don't need much training. They need context, access and clear expectations. This plan covers all three.
Before day one
- Accounts. Email, chat, project tools and any software they'll use, each with multi-factor authentication switched on.
- Least access. Give access to what the role needs now. Add more as trust and scope grow.
- A welcome note. Who they report to, their core hours, and what the first week looks like.
- A buddy. Someone other than their manager they can ask small questions.
- The first task. Something real and small they can finish in the first two days.
Week one: context
- A 30-minute call on the business: customers, what you sell, how you win.
- Short intros with each person they'll work with.
- Read access to past plans, reports and decisions.
- The first small task done and reviewed together.
- Agree how you'll communicate: which channel for what, and expected reply times.
Weeks two to four: ownership
- Hand over one recurring responsibility they fully own.
- Set two or three goals for the month that you can both measure.
- Hold a 15-minute check-in each day in your overlap hours, and a 30-minute one-to-one each week.
- Ask them to write a short weekly update: done, next, blocked.
The 30-day review
At the end of the month, talk through three questions:
- What's going well, and what should they keep doing?
- What's unclear or slowing them down?
- What should they own next month?
With Countbird, we check in with you and with your hire during the first month too, so small issues get fixed early. If the fit isn't right, we'll find a replacement at no extra cost.
Copy-paste checklist
Day 0 to 30
☐ Accounts created with MFA · ☐ Welcome note sent · ☐ Buddy assigned · ☐ First task ready · ☐ Business overview call · ☐ Team intros · ☐ Communication rules agreed · ☐ Recurring responsibility handed over · ☐ Monthly goals set · ☐ Daily and weekly check-ins booked · ☐ 30-day review held