Preboarding Option That Leads to Better Onboarding?

What Happens Before Day One?

It's the weekend. Monday is Sarah's first day in her new job.

Her work bag is packed, the route checked, she's ready, but as Monday gets closer, questions and worries start to re-emerge.

Will I hit my targets, fit in with the team, have a supportive manager, and find the flexibility I sometimes need? Did I make the right decision leaving my last job?

Sarah has already started forming an opinion of her new employer. Since accepting the offer, she's hardly heard from them. She wasn't expecting much, but would have liked a bit more contact.

Across town, Linda, Sarah's new manager, is also thinking about tomorrow. Monday is her busiest day. Her calendar is already full when she realises she'd meant to block out the morning for Sarah's arrival.

"Why didn't I ask Sarah to start on Tuesday?"

She runs through her onbording checklist. Has reception been told? Has the security pass arrived? Is the laptop ready? The first-week programme still has some gaps, and she'll need to send a welcome email to all staff first thing in the morning. She'll go in early and do it.

Linda cares, but she's busy and, at this point, just wants the practical arrangements to work.

Sarah wants reassurance.

Are these relatable perspectives? And is the preboarding period between accepting a job and starting it being used appropriately — does it even need to be?

Imagine a Digital Welcome, the Week Before

Imagine Sarah receiving a digital welcome the week before she starts.

A welcome message from the CEO. A voice message from Linda saying she's arranging a team lunch on Monday. A note from HR confirming where and when to meet. Some useful reading material. And a message from IT explaining where to collect her laptop.

All in the same place, on one digital page.

Nothing polished. Just colleagues saying hello, with information that makes the first few days feel less like entering the unknown — and shows that the company cares.

For Linda, the process has prompted everyone to prepare. Calendars get blocked. The laptop gets checked. Lunch is booked. The team are expecting her.

I'd Like to Hear From You

When you started a new job, what did you hear from your new employer before Day One — did it change anything for you?

I'm exploring whether a simple digital welcome the week before could help companies make employee onboarding noticeably better and whether the investment in it could make onboarding smoother for the company.

If you're recruiting someone over the next few weeks and would be interested in using a digital welcome, I'd love to hear from you. Connect with me or send me a message.

No cost. I'm looking for feedback on whether this approach could make a difference to preboarding, onboarding, preboarding and induction as a whole.