How to Onboard & Train New Employees: Strategies for Lasting Engagement

Knowing how to onboard new employees is one of the most important skills any manager or HR leader can master. A great onboarding process doesn’t just welcome people, it sets them up to succeed.

According to Gallup, only 12% of employees say their organization does a great job onboarding new hires, but when onboarding is done well, job satisfaction is 2.6 times higher. That means the difference between “getting started” and “feeling successful” lies in the structure and care behind your onboarding and training plan.

In this guide inspired by Monday.com, we’ll explore how to onboard employees strategically—from their first day to their first 90 days—and how to use reward and incentive strategies through the Engage2Reward™ Gift Card Ordering Platform to keep them motivated, connected, and confident.

1. Start Before Day One

If you’re learning how to onboard new employees effectively, start before their first day. The preboarding phase sets the tone for everything that follows.

Send a personalized welcome message or short video from the team, and include a “welcome aboard” eGift card through the Engage2Reward Platform. This small gesture can ease first-day nerves and make new hires feel appreciated before they even walk in.

Engage2Reward Tip: Send a digital “first day” incentive—like $10 for Starbucks or an office supply store—right after they accept their offer. It’s a powerful way to turn anticipation into excitement and make them feel prepared for their first day.

2. Clarify What “Good” Looks Like

A key part of how to create a training plan for new employees is defining what success looks like. Clarity accelerates learning and builds confidence.

Use your first one-on-one to connect their role to team goals, then outline a 30-60-90 day training plan that includes milestones, deliverables, and learning checkpoints. Recognize progress along the way: rewarding each milestone with a small, meaningful incentive and sincere feedback reinforces accountability and motivation.

Engage2Reward Tip: Set up milestone-based rewards that trigger at 30, 60, and 90 days, turning your training plan into a measurable, motivational journey.

3. Design Meaningful Early Wins

When you’re figuring out how to train new employees, start by building confidence early. Assign a small but visible project during their first week—something that lets them contribute immediately.

When they complete that first project, recognize it publicly and personally. A short shoutout in a team meeting followed by a thank-you gift card helps your new hire feel capable and appreciated.

Engage2Reward Tip: Use the Engage2Reward Platform’s bulk or direct delivery to send instant recognition for small wins. It’s an easy way to build early momentum.

4. Connect Them to People

Knowing how to onboard employees also means knowing how to connect them. Onboarding isn’t just about tasks, it’s about relationships.

Pair each new hire with an onboarding buddy or mentor and reward those mentors for their time and guidance through the Engage2Reward Platform. It encourages collaboration and strengthens team culture.

Engage2Reward Tip: Offer a small gift card incentive to mentors who complete onboarding buddy tasks or host introductory meetups. Recognition keeps mentors engaged, too.

5. Build Learning Into Doing

If you’re designing a training plan for new employees, integrate hands-on learning. Don’t let onboarding become a stack of passive materials. Mix shadowing, small deliverables, and applied projects.

Reward initiative when employees go above and beyond, like updating documentation or presenting at a team meeting. Recognition through instant eGift cards shows that learning and contribution go hand in hand.

Engage2Reward Tip: Personalize gift card delivery with the employee's name and a letter of appreciation through the Engage2Reward Platform to show you appreciate their individual contributions.

6. Invite Feedback and Celebrate Growth

The final step in how to onboard new employees effectively is closing the loop. Ask for feedback on the onboarding and training process, then show appreciation for their insights.

Send a thank-you gift card when employees complete onboarding surveys or share ideas that improve your process. This reinforces a culture of continuous improvement and mutual respect.

Engage2Reward Tip: Send a post-onboarding “thank-you” reward—like a $15 Engage2Reward™ Choice Card—to encourage participation and show that every opinion matters.

Conclusion

Mastering how to onboard and train new employees requires more than a checklist; it requires intention, empathy, and motivation.

With the Engage2Reward Platform, HR leaders and managers can bring onboarding plans to life with built-in reward strategies that make learning engaging and recognition effortless.

From preboarding welcomes to 90-day celebrations, a reward-driven onboarding plan doesn’t just help new hires fit in—it helps them thrive.

Schedule a call with our team to learn how the Engage2Reward Platform can power up your onboarding and training programs.