www.togetherplatform.com Open in urlscan Pro
34.251.201.224  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Product
Mentoring Software
How It Works
Pairing Algorithm
Integrations
Employee Retention Calculator
Solutions
Role
Human Resources
Learning & Development
Department Leads
Community Managers
USE Cases
Attracting & Retaining Talent
Diversity & ERG
Employee Engagement
Remote Work
High Potentials
New Manager
Onboarding
Well Being
CustomersPricingResources
Resources
Blog
Learn more about developing talent and starting mentorship programs
White Papers, Ebooks, and Case Studies
Our latest guides on mentorship, employee development, DEI, and more.
Mentorship Program Planning Hub
Curated guides and advice for anyone starting a mentoring program.
Webinars and Interviews
Watch and learn from experts on how to build a thriving culture of mentorship
Newsletter
Bi-Weekly updates of leading content in the HR and L&D space
Coaching and Mentoring Report
New!
Truly understand the world of mentorship and coaching with our research report
eBook
Popular Mentorship Models
Not sure where to start with exploring mentorship? Start here by learning which
model is right for your goals!
eBook
Best Practices To Run A Mentorship Program
We help run some of the top mentoring programs around - here are our best tips
for success.
Book a DemoTry for Free
Sign inBook a DemoTry for Free




Onboarding programs


WHY AN ONBOARDING "BUDDY" IS ESSENTIAL FOR EVERY NEW EMPLOYEE

Onboarding buddies are essential for setting up new hires for success. Here's
everything you need to know about buddy programs with examples.

Nick Saraev

April 29, 2022

Hiring new talent isn't as simple as reading a few resumes and choosing the best
one. It extends way beyond the interview stage to the crucial onboarding process
when you introduce your newest team member to their new job and company culture.

It can be a daunting experience for a new employee – all that change, in an
unfamiliar environment – and companies that neglect to provide adequate support
during this time are doing their new hires a disservice. Unfortunately, 88
percent of employees report that their company's onboarding process is
ineffective.

This is where an onboarding buddy can make all the difference. They provide
support and guidance during those first few weeks, helping the new employee to
feel comfortable and get up to speed as quickly as possible.

A strong onboarding program can improve your retention rates by over 80 percent,
so it's definitely worth putting in the extra effort. Let's take a look at the
ins and outs of allocating onboarding buddies.

‍


WHAT IS AN ONBOARDING BUDDY?

There's nothing more off-putting than being left to your own devices on the
first day of a new job. “Here's your desk – have fun!” Conversely, an onboarding
buddy is someone who supports new hires and helps them settle into their new
role. An onboarding buddy usually checks in with the new hire throughout each
day for the first month.

Onboarding buddies are slightly different from onboarding mentors in that they
are less involved in developing the new employee's skills. Their focus is more
on aiding the new employee in their transition from candidate to fully
integrated team member.

The buddy system has been used in various industries for years, and is
especially beneficial in larger companies with complex hierarchies and multiple
teams. It can be difficult for a new employee to navigate their way around an
organization like this, so a buddy can provide invaluable support and guidance.

‍


DO NEW HIRES NEED A BUDDY?

Onboarding buddies sound great on paper – but do you really need them? Research
would suggest so. Studies reveal that 30 percent of job seekers have voluntarily
left their job within the first three months, while half of employees leave
within two years. 

Considering that every new employee costs thousands to onboard (and thousands to
lose), we shouldn't take these stats lightly.

When thinking about the importance of company culture, it's not hard to see why
turnover rates are so high across most industries. Take a look at these figures
on the current state of company culture:

 * Only 1 in 3 employees feel that they receive regular recognition for their
   efforts
 * Over 60 percent of employees are not engaged in their current workplace
 * 43 percent of employees were looking for a new job due to poor corporate
   culture

Company culture is deeply intertwined with job satisfaction, which makes
complete sense. No one wants to work in a toxic, cold, or unwelcoming
atmosphere. We are social creatures, and positive affirmation is essential to
our well-being.

Onboarding buddies can help to improve company culture by creating a warm and
supportive environment in which new employees feel comfortable asking questions
and taking risks. They also provide an opportunity for the new employee to learn
about the company's culture first-hand, from someone who is already in it.

‍


WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING AN ONBOARDING BUDDY PROGRAM?

Did you know that only 29 percent of employees feel adequately prepared after
their onboarding experience? That's not enough to keep retention levels high,
and it's certainly not beneficial for business success. 

With an onboarding buddy program, however, the picture looks completely
different. Employees are supported, engaged, and made to feel like part of the
team right from day one. Confidence is fostered, and new employees can truly
feel as though they belong.

And these aren't just empty claims. Research shows a direct link between
supportive onboarding and employee productivity, engagement, and retention:

 * A strong onboarding process can improve productivity by 70 percent and
   retention by 82 percent
 * Employees are 93 percent more likely to refer their company after having a
   strong onboarding experience
 * 70 percent of employees who have a supportive onboarding experience end up
   loving their jobs

In other words, if you want to keep your new hires around for the long haul,
it's essential to provide them with a positive onboarding experience – and
having a buddy program is your surefire solution.

‍


HOW TO START AN ONBOARDING BUDDY PROGRAM

Onboarding buddies aren't as formal as paired mentors, but it's still a good
idea to have a plan in place before you start assigning buddies. Let's run
through the steps.


1. DETERMINE WHICH EMPLOYEES WOULD MAKE GREAT ONBOARDING BUDDIES

It takes a particular personality and skill set to be an onboarding buddy. Of
course, the buddy needs to be welcoming and friendly, and they should ideally be
knowledgeable in most areas of your company.

Whether you use registration software like the one we offer at Together, or you
manually assign buddies, you'll want to find individuals who exhibit strong
people skills and can provide support to new employees.


2. CREATE A RELEVANT PAIRING FOR EVERY NEW EMPLOYEE

Once you've chosen the right people for the job, pairing them with suitable
employees is a task in and of itself (that’s why we’ve outlined how to match
employees in a detailed E-book.) 

For example, if you have a new employee coming into the software engineering
space, it wouldn't make sense to pair them with a buddy from your communications
department.

Instead, try to match them up with someone who has a similar job role or skill
area. Doing so will help the new employee feel more comfortable and supported as
they navigate their way through your company.

A great way to pair your employees with their buddies is by using the powerful
Together pairing algorithm. We've designed our algorithm to create the most
relevant and optimal pairings possible, matching people according to their
goals, skills, and development areas.


3. SET GROUND RULES FOR THE RELATIONSHIP

Next, it's crucial that you run each onboarding buddy through some ground rules
before they get started. This will help to avoid any confusion or conflict down
the road.

Some things you might want to include are:

 * The buddy's role is not to be a substitute for a manager or supervisor
 * The buddy should provide support but not direct the new employee's work
 * The buddy should keep the new employee's manager in the loop about any
   progress or concerns

Alongside these rules, you can guide your buddy in best practices for supporting
their employee. For instance, you might ask them to be particularly attentive in
the first couple of days so that the new employee can get used to their
surroundings and ask any questions they may have.

Your buddies should also:

 * Show employees around the entire company space to get them familiar with
   their surroundings
 * Introduce them to other team members and explain their role on the team
 * Make sure new employees know where HR, IT, and other essential areas are in
   case they need to access them urgently

Onboarding buddies are tasked with making the transition into a new job as
smooth and comfortable as possible, so these ground rules will help to set the
tone for a positive working relationship.


4. MONITOR BUDDY SYSTEM OUTCOMES

Finally, you'll want to monitor the performance of each pairing to ensure that
the system is working effectively. This can be done by conducting regular
check-ins with both the new employee and their buddy.

You can ask questions such as:

 * How has the buddy been helpful?
 * What are some things the buddy could do to improve support?
 * How comfortable does the new employee feel?
 * Is the new employee integrating well with their team?

Consider that employees who feel comfortable giving feedback report a 91 percent
improvement in company relationships. This is a great incentive to solicit
feedback frequently and openly.

You can also use the Together reporting feature for comprehensive updates on
signups, participation rates, goal completions, session feedback, pairing
relevancy, and more.

‍


WHAT MAKES A GOOD ONBOARDING BUDDY?

It can be tricky to choose the right employees to act as onboarding buddies, but
one of the best strategies is to reflect on your own needs as a new employee.
When you were new to the role, who were the people you looked to for support?
What qualities made them stand out?

Look for traits such as:

 * Proven ability to develop relationships quickly
 * Genuine interest in helping others succeed
 * Strong communication and problem-solving skills
 * Knowledgeable about the company and the role they’re mentoring in

It also helps if they are friendly and enthusiastic – after all, the onboarding
buddy is essentially the new employee’s first friend at the company.

‍


EXAMPLES OF COMPANIES WITH SUCCESSFUL BUDDY SYSTEMS

Wondering whether buddy systems are all hype and no substance? Here are two
solid examples of companies that have implemented successful onboarding buddy
programs:

 * Microsoft actively uses buddy systems to boost their productivity and improve
   their new hire satisfaction rates. After piloting their first buddy program
   with 600 employees, they saw a 36 percent increase in satisfaction.
 * Buffer employs a buddy system to help new remote hires feel at home. Each new
   hire is assigned not one, but three buddies – a leader buddy, a role buddy,
   and a culture buddy. Google later adopted the same model, so it was evidently
   a success.

You, too, can reap the benefits of a buddy system, and we at Together can help
you get started.

‍


BUILD YOUR ONBOARDING PROGRAM WITH TOGETHER

At Together, we are fully committed to helping companies perfect their
onboarding and employee satisfaction through mentorship. Our software ensures
that every employee is matched with the best peer, mentor, or expert to learn
from – and our platform is recognized as the very best in the industry. 

If you're ready to harness the power of a solid onboarding buddy system, we are
here to help you. Our powerful algorithm can pair every new hire with their
ideal buddy, and our team of skilled onboarding experts can help you create a
program that will make your new employees feel welcome, supported, and
productive from day one.

Try us out for free here, or give us a book a demo with us for more information.
We'd love to work with you.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Link 1Link 1


SOCIAL SHARING

Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Facebook
Join our Newsletter
What is an onboarding buddy?Do new hires need a buddy?What are the benefits of
having an onboarding buddy program?How to start an onboarding buddy programWhat
makes a good onboarding buddy?Examples of companies with successful buddy
systemsBuild your onboarding program with Together



LEARN HOW TO BE AN ONBOARDING BUDDY OR MENTOR WITH OUR ONBOARDING MENTORSHIP
HANDBOOK.

Starting a new job is an exciting time, but can also be a little nerve-wracking
for the new team member. Onboarding programs are designed to help alleviate some
of that anxiety. This handbook provides tips for being an onboarding buddy.



OUR MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

No items found.


SET APART YOUR ORGANIZATION WITH MENTORSHIP

Schedule 30 minutes to see Together’s platform in action, or jump right in for
free.


Book a DemoTry for Free

TOGETHER PLATFORM

 * Home
 * Customers
 * Turnover Cost Calculator
 * Careers
 * Sign In
 * Customer Help Center
 * Platform Status
 * Use Cases
 * Product
 * Pricing
 * Why Mentorship

PRODUCT

 * How it Works
 * Mentor Matching Algorithm
 * Integrations
 * Pricing

ROLE

 * Human Resources
 * Learning & Development
 * Department Leads
 * Community Managers

USE CASES

 * Attracting & Retaining Talent
 * Diversity & ERG
 * Employee Engagement
 * High Potentials
 * New Manager
 * Onboarding
 * Remote Work
 * Well Being

TERMS OF SERVICE

 * User Terms
 * Customer Terms
 * Affiliate Agreement
 * Channel Partner Agreement
 * Cookie Policy
 * Acceptable Use
 * Privacy
 * Security
 * Uptime Agreement

RESOURCES

 * Mentorship program planning hub
 * Best practices to run a mentorship program
 * State of coaching and mentoring 2022
 * 6 Mentorship models cheat sheet
 * How to build a business case for your mentoring program
 * Mentorship program proposal template
 * Meeting templates for mentors and mentees
 * Mentorship program planning template

CONTACT

 * info@togetherplatform.com
 * +1 (833) 755-5502
 * See Together’s Platform in action
   


RESOURCES

 * Blog
 * Help Center
 * Newsletter
 * Partnership Programs

Copyright © 2022 Together (US) Inc. All rights reserved.