onboarding-guide

What this skill does

# Onboarding Guide

> Create structured onboarding programs that accelerate new hire productivity through clear milestones, organized resources, and measurable outcomes.

## When to Use This Skill

- Designing company onboarding
- Creating role-specific plans
- Building onboarding checklists
- Measuring onboarding effectiveness
- Improving time-to-productivity

## Methodology Foundation

Based on **Gallup Q12 engagement research** and **BambooHR onboarding studies**, combining:
- 30-60-90 day frameworks
- Milestone-based progression
- Social integration focus
- Measurable competency gates

## What Claude Does vs What You Decide

| Claude Does | You Decide |
|-------------|------------|
| Structures onboarding phases | Timeline flexibility |
| Creates milestone checklists | Resource availability |
| Suggests activities | Buddy assignments |
| Identifies success metrics | Performance standards |
| Drafts welcome materials | Cultural elements |

## Instructions

### Step 1: Define Onboarding Goals

**Core Objectives:**
| Objective | Measure | Target |
|-----------|---------|--------|
| Productivity | Time to first contribution | 30 days |
| Engagement | Pulse survey score | 4+/5 |
| Retention | 90-day retention | 95%+ |
| Culture | Manager satisfaction | 4+/5 |
| Compliance | Training completion | 100% |

### Step 2: Design Phase Structure

**30-60-90 Framework:**

| Phase | Days | Focus | Outcome |
|-------|------|-------|---------|
| **Absorb** | 1-30 | Learn, observe, connect | Understands role |
| **Adapt** | 31-60 | Apply, contribute, ask | Making contributions |
| **Accelerate** | 61-90 | Own, improve, lead | Fully productive |

### Step 3: Create Milestone Checklists

**Checklist Categories:**
1. Administrative setup
2. Tools and systems
3. People and relationships
4. Role-specific training
5. Cultural integration

### Step 4: Build Resource Library

**Resource Organization:**
| Category | Contents |
|----------|----------|
| Company | Vision, values, org chart |
| Role | JD, expectations, success criteria |
| Tools | System access, tutorials |
| People | Team bios, stakeholder map |
| Culture | Norms, rituals, communication |

### Step 5: Measure Success

**Checkpoint Assessments:**
| Day | Assessment | Owner |
|-----|------------|-------|
| 7 | First week check-in | Manager |
| 14 | Buddy feedback | Buddy |
| 30 | 30-day review | Manager |
| 60 | Progress assessment | Manager |
| 90 | Performance review | Manager + HR |

## Examples

### Example 1: Complete 30-60-90 Onboarding Plan

**Input:**
```
Create onboarding plan for:
- Role: Marketing Manager
- Team: 3 marketers, reports to VP Marketing
- Key tools: HubSpot, Google Analytics, Figma
- First project: Q2 campaign planning
```

**Output:**
```
## 30-60-90 Onboarding Plan: Marketing Manager

### Role Overview

| Element | Detail |
|---------|--------|
| Title | Marketing Manager |
| Reports To | VP Marketing |
| Team | 3 direct reports |
| Start Date | [Date] |
| Buddy | [Senior Marketing Manager] |

---

## Pre-Start Checklist (Before Day 1)

**IT/Admin:**
- [ ] Email account created
- [ ] Laptop ordered and configured
- [ ] Building access/badge
- [ ] HubSpot seat provisioned
- [ ] Google Analytics access
- [ ] Figma seat added
- [ ] Slack workspace invite

**Manager Prep:**
- [ ] First week calendar blocked
- [ ] Buddy assigned and briefed
- [ ] Welcome message drafted
- [ ] Desk/workspace ready
- [ ] Team notified of start date

---

## Phase 1: ABSORB (Days 1-30)

### Goal
Understand the company, team, and role fundamentals

### Week 1: Orientation

**Day 1 - Welcome**
| Time | Activity | Owner |
|------|----------|-------|
| 9:00 | Welcome from manager | VP Marketing |
| 9:30 | IT setup and security training | IT |
| 10:30 | Office tour | Buddy |
| 11:00 | HR paperwork and benefits | HR |
| 12:00 | Team lunch | Team |
| 1:30 | Company overview presentation | VP Marketing |
| 3:00 | Tool access verification | Self |
| 4:00 | First 1:1 with manager | VP Marketing |

**Day 2-3 - Company Deep Dive**
- [ ] Complete company history module
- [ ] Review brand guidelines
- [ ] Read last 2 quarterly reports
- [ ] Watch CEO all-hands recording
- [ ] Review competitor landscape doc

**Day 4-5 - Marketing Team Orientation**
- [ ] 1:1 with each team member (3 × 30 min)
- [ ] Review team OKRs and metrics
- [ ] Understand current campaigns
- [ ] Access marketing dashboards
- [ ] Review content calendar

### Week 2: Systems and Stakeholders

**Tools Training:**
- [ ] HubSpot certification (8 hours)
- [ ] Google Analytics walkthrough
- [ ] Figma basics tutorial
- [ ] Internal wiki navigation

**Stakeholder Meetings:**
| Person | Role | Purpose |
|--------|------|---------|
| Head of Sales | Revenue partner | Understand MQL handoff |
| Product Manager | Product launches | Align on roadmap |
| Customer Success | Customer voice | Understand retention |
| Finance | Budget partner | Understand process |

### Week 3-4: Role Immersion

**Activities:**
- [ ] Shadow team members on key tasks
- [ ] Review past 6 months of campaigns
- [ ] Analyze top-performing content
- [ ] Understand lead scoring model
- [ ] Map customer journey documentation

**Deliverable:** Present "30-Day Observations" to VP Marketing
- What I've learned
- Questions I have
- Initial opportunities I see

---

### Phase 1 Milestones

| Milestone | Due | Status |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| All system access working | Day 3 | [ ] |
| Completed company training | Day 5 | [ ] |
| Met all key stakeholders | Day 14 | [ ] |
| HubSpot certification | Day 21 | [ ] |
| 30-day presentation | Day 30 | [ ] |

### Phase 1 Success Criteria

| Criterion | Measure | Target |
|-----------|---------|--------|
| System proficiency | Can navigate independently | Yes/No |
| Team relationships | Buddy rating | 4+/5 |
| Company knowledge | Quiz score | 80%+ |
| Engagement | Pulse check | Positive |

---

## Phase 2: ADAPT (Days 31-60)

### Goal
Start contributing and take ownership of initial responsibilities

### Responsibilities Ramp

**Week 5-6: Supporting Role**
- [ ] Co-lead weekly marketing meeting
- [ ] Review and approve team content
- [ ] Begin 1:1s with direct reports
- [ ] Contribute to campaign ideation

**Week 7-8: Primary Ownership**
- [ ] Lead weekly marketing meeting
- [ ] Own content calendar decisions
- [ ] First budget planning input
- [ ] Draft Q2 campaign strategy

### Key Activities

**Campaign Planning:**
- [ ] Analyze Q1 campaign performance
- [ ] Interview Sales on lead quality
- [ ] Research competitor Q2 activities
- [ ] Draft Q2 campaign brief

**Team Management:**
- [ ] Establish 1:1 cadence with reports
- [ ] Complete first performance check-ins
- [ ] Identify team training needs

**Deliverable:** Q2 Campaign Proposal Presentation

---

### Phase 2 Milestones

| Milestone | Due | Status |
|-----------|-----|--------|
| First campaign contribution | Day 35 | [ ] |
| Leading weekly meeting | Day 42 | [ ] |
| Team 1:1 rhythm established | Day 45 | [ ] |
| Q2 campaign proposal | Day 60 | [ ] |

### Phase 2 Success Criteria

| Criterion | Measure | Target |
|-----------|---------|--------|
| Campaign contribution | VP approval | Yes |
| Team feedback | Skip-level pulse | 4+/5 |
| Independence | Manager assessment | 4+/5 |

---

## Phase 3: ACCELERATE (Days 61-90)

### Goal
Operate independently and drive impact

### Full Ownership

**Responsibilities:**
- [ ] Full ownership of Q2 campaign execution
- [ ] Team performance management
- [ ] Budget management ($X/quarter)
- [ ] Cross-functional project leadership
- [ ] Process improvement initiatives

### Key Activities

**Campaign Execution:**
- [ ] Launch Q2 campaign
- [ ] Establish reporting cadence
- [ ] First optimization cycle

**Strategic Contribution:**
- [ ] Participate in H2 planning
- [ ] Identify one process improvement
- [ ] Present results to leadership

**Deliverable:** 90-Day Impact Report
- Campaigns launched/contributed
- Metrics influenced
- Team development actions
- Re