Ever felt anxious or nervous before your first day at a new job? Well, you’re not alone as these feelings of uncertainty are exactly how I felt before the start of my marketing internship at Appical!
You’re probably asking things along the line of, did everything I feared would go wrong happen? Was I justified in feeling anxious beforehand? Was it as terrifying as it seems?
Well my answer to all those questions are as follows: No, not at all!
The reason being because Appical actually practices what they preach. They’re an HR technology firm that focuses on providing onboarding software and helping create tailor onboarding experiences for some of the biggest companies in the world like HP! They know the importance of a good first impression and being prepared before your first day.
As part of my onboarding, I downloaded their internal onboarding app which was my one-stop shop for everything I needed to know before the first day. All I can say is that it was an eye-opening experience! The app started with a countdown until my first day. Of course, there was a congratulation message for me when I first opened the app for joining their team which was a nice touch.
Approximately 10 days before the infamous first day, some of the content was unlocked and my journey began with what’s called the ‘preboarding’ phase. This phase made sure that I was properly prepared for my first day and provided me with lots of practical information. This includes, what to wear, where the office is located, what time I’m supposed to arrive, and etc. But you may be thinking, “isn’t that basically just an instruction manual, that must be boring”. In reality, it was filled with interactive visual elements and short quizzes which made it both helpful and fun! When I finished the preboarding phase, the onboarding phase of the app was unlocked the moment I stepped into the office.
As I waited in the elevator, I was getting some last minute jitters. But the moment I stepped out my mind quickly became at ease. This was because the entire marketing team came together to give me a warm welcome. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my desk was loaded with fun and cute goodies. There was a tote bag, a handy powerbank, a branded notebook and water bottle as well as a cute teddy bear with a cape. This was all topped off with a sweet handwritten note formally welcoming me to the team. I instantly felt that I was actually part of the Appical family!
Following this, all my devices were set up quickly and I was ready to get to know my immediate colleagues better with some nice chats over a cup of coffee. I was then guided by two onboarding buddies who helped me with everything from the written and unwritten rules of the office, to where to find anything and anyone I need and so much more!
The next few days were all about getting me up to speed with the processes and ways of working as well as executing my main starting tasks. I was told I could take my time and learn both by asking and doing things at my own pace. After a week or two, I felt ready to contribute my fullest to Appical!
All in all, onboarding is so much more than having your desk decorated when you arrive. There are many things that you look for when starting a new job and an excellent onboarding journey should certainly be one of those things!