New-hire First Week Plan (Markdown)
Adapt this template per role. The key is not the content — it's the structure: friction removed on day one, shadow through the middle of the week, a small win by Friday.
Who it's for
People leads, hiring managers, HR business partners, founders.
How to use this template
- 1Fill in the shadow list with real names and calendar-book them in advance.
- 2Brief the buddy on their role before day one — do not surprise them on the morning.
- 3Review the plan with the new hire on Wednesday and adjust for reality.
Licence
Free to use commercially. Adapt freely for your organisation — attribution to Nightingale Software is appreciated but not required.
Onboardly
Skip the spreadsheet — get the software.
Onboardly
New-hire onboarding, done in a week
This template is a great starting point. The Onboardly product turns it into a live system — with reminders, audit trail and the rest of the workflow built in. Free Starter tier, no credit card required.
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