New Hire Onboarding Checklist Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: Use this checklist template to help standardize the onboarding process and reduce errors. You can use this template across departments to align HR and hiring managers, as well as improve the new hire experience.
Notable Template Features: This comprehensive template provides space to leave status updates and track all onboarding tasks, from preboarding to the first day to the 90-day mark. The template tables include space to note task description, assignment, due date, and notes.
Learn more about onboarding tools, resources, and benefits from HR experts with this complete guide to employee onboarding.
Onboarding Schedule Template
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Excel | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: This template outlines tasks and activities for structured onboarding programs over time. List and schedule all steps in your onboarding process so that the entire organization can clearly understand the sequence of tasks.
Notable Template Features: This onboarding schedule template features a comprehensive timeline for scheduling tasks in quarterly, monthly, and weekly columns for the entire year. Use the spreadsheet rows to create a complete listing of all onboarding tasks and activities.
Learn more about onboarding and offboarding, their program stages, and what to consider with this onboarding and offboarding employee lifecycle resource.
Onboarding Welcome Email Template
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Microsoft Word | Google Docs
When to Use This Template: Use this email template to standardize the process of welcoming new hires to your organization. The template prompts you to create standard communication beginning one to two weeks before an employee's start date or immediately after they accept the job offer.
Notable Template Features: This template features space to share first-day details, expectations, and action items with links for digital forms, email setup, and employee handbook resources.
Check out this collection of employee development plan templates to help you set goals, outline action steps, and track employee development progress.
New Hire Onboarding Plan Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word
Download a Blank New Hire Onboarding Plan Template for PowerPoint
Download a Sample New Hire Onboarding Plan Template for PowerPoint
When to Use This Template: This onboarding plan template helps teams outline their onboarding process to ensure a consistent experience for all new hires.
Notable Template Features: This template features space to list objective descriptions, role responsibilities, and focus areas across the preboarding, orientation, and integration onboarding phases. The Next Steps table outlines long-term goals and the actions to achieve them.
Learn more about the onboarding process, mutual benefits, and simple tools, as well as how to earn team buy-in with this resource for employee onboarding processes, plans, best practices, and flowcharts.
30-60-90 Day Onboarding Plan Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Docs | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: Use this template to structure onboarding in an employee’s first 30, 60, and 90 days. This template works well for planning and tracking professional development, goals, and performance for the first three months of employment.
Notable Template Features: This onboarding plan template features space to outline outcome categories across the three time frames. It includes a Milestones Overview section, describing focus areas and objectives, and an Action Plan section for planning and tracking tasks at the 30-, 60-, and 90-day marks.
Check out this new employee onboarding template set from Smartsheet to help you personalize onboarding, schedule onboarding tasks, track progress, and centralize onboarding assets.
30-60-90 Day Onboarding Plan Presentation Template
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PowerPoint | Google Slides
Download a Sample 30-60-90 Day Onboarding Plan Presentation Template for
PowerPoint | Google Slides
When to Use This Template: This template is ideal for new hire orientation sessions and HR meetings. It presents milestones and other onboarding focus areas and tasks.
Notable Template Features: This presentation template features focus area descriptions and action plan tasks in dedicated presentation slides. The Milestones Overview section includes space to describe onboarding objectives at 30, 60, and 90 days.
Onboarding Tracking Template
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Excel | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: Use this template to track onboarding tasks for multiple new hires simultaneously. This onboarding tracking template is ideal for large-scale hiring and remote teams.
Notable Template Features: This template features columns for five new hires, as well as job title, department, start date, and employee ID number for each. It also categorizes and tracks tasks from preboarding and the first week to the 90-day mark.
HR Onboarding Checklist Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Docs | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: HR departments can use this template to manage and track administrative and compliance onboarding activities. It’s a great tool to use to minimize compliance risks and ensure a structured onboarding process.
Notable Template Features: This template features space to note the new employee’s name, ID number, email, start date, remote/in-office status, and other employee information. The template columns list onboarding activities statuses, monitors, and notes, preventing delays and missed onboarding steps.
Onboarding Checklist for Managers Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | PowerPoint
When to Use This Template: Hiring managers can use this template to actively onboard new hires. It’s a great tool for improving team integration and outlining employee performance goals at the outset.
Notable Template Features: This template includes columns to note the status of each task and activity at every stage of the onboarding process. The onboarding checklist covers all onboarding tasks, including those from before the start date to the first week through the 90-day employment mark.
Remote/Hybrid Onboarding Checklist Template
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Excel | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: This checklist template works well for onboarding remote and hybrid new hires to promote engagement and retention. It ensures employees experience a complete onboarding program despite not being in the same geographic location.
Notable Template Features: This template includes Owner and Status Update fields for all onboarding tasks, from preboarding through the 90-day mark. The Communication Guidelines section lists the procedures necessary for remote/hybrid employees.
Executive Onboarding Plan Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word
When to Use This Template: This template is ideal for executive onboarding to ensure strategic alignment from the get-go. Use it to help executives transition into organizational leadership roles successfully.
Notable Template Features: This comprehensive template includes space to detail all onboarding objectives and actions, from preboarding through the first year. It includes development goals and stakeholder engagement fields that describe action plans, engagement purposes, and statuses.
Customer Onboarding Checklist Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: Use this checklist template to onboard customers and improve client satisfaction and retention. The template guides new customers through setup and training so that you can ensure an easeful and professional start to the relationship.
Notable Template Features: This template features Task, Owner, and Status fields for new account setup, needs analysis, and product education. It also features an Ongoing Engagement and Retention section that you can use to track customer engagement.
Client Onboarding Checklist Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: Use this checklist template to manage and personalize the client onboarding process. It helps ensure smooth transitions and practical expectation settings.
Notable Template Features: The top of the template includes space to note the industry, the primary contact for the account, the account manager, the start date, and other client data. Then use the template to track task statuses in the Preparation, Setup, Welcome, and Initial Engagement through the Final Review and Long-Term Strategy sections.
Buddy/Mentor Onboarding Checklist Presentation Template
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PowerPoint | Google Slides
When to Use This Template: Use this checklist presentation template to guide buddies, mentors, and new hires through onboarding. This template works well for mentoring or buddy programs, as well as for peer coaching.
Notable Template Features: This template features an overview slide where you can describe the buddy or mentor's onboarding responsibilities. It includes dedicated checklist slides for the first week and the 30-, 60-, and 90-day marks.
Employee Onboarding Form Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Docs | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: This employee onboarding form template streamlines HR documentation and compliance. Use it to collect new employee information.
Notable Template Features: This printable template features a confidential Payroll and Tax Information section for you to document the pay schedule, payroll method, bank account, and routing numbers. This onboarding form also includes sections for contact information and employee details.
Onboarding Training Plan Template
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Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Sheets
Download a Sample Onboarding Training Plan Template for
Excel | Microsoft Word | Adobe PDF | Google Sheets
When to Use This Template: This training plan template introduces company policies and expectations for new hires. Use it to boost employee engagement and minimize turnover, as well as a new employee training plan template.
Notable Template Features: The Onboarding Training Schedule section describes the details of new hire orientation, integration, and long-term development. It includes space for improvement areas and follow-up based on evaluation criteria.
Formal vs. Informal Onboarding
Companies can use formal or informal onboarding techniques to help new hires adjust to their role and perform well. Formal onboarding follows a set plan with training and checklists, while informal onboarding is flexible, using team tasks and support to teach.
Both onboarding plan types have key benefits:
- Formal onboarding uses a clear plan with steps, guides, and set training.
- Informal onboarding relies on real-world work, peer help, and hands-on learning.
- Formal methods ensure full training, fewer mistakes, and clear role understanding.
- Informal methods help employees adapt fast and learn through daily work.
- Both styles help new hires adjust, grow, and succeed. A well-balanced onboarding plan blends structure and hands-on learning for the best results.
Choosing the right mix depends on company goals, culture, and job needs.
Onboarding Best Practices
An onboarding process helps new hires adjust quickly, feel engaged, and perform well. The best programs mix clear steps, team support, and tasks. Companies that follow onboarding best practices give employees the tools to grow and succeed.
Here are some best practices for a successful onboarding program:
- Start early by sending a welcome email and preboarding tasks before the first day.
- Set clear goals so that new hires know their role, team, and company mission.
- Use a structured plan with training, checklists, and regular check-ins.
- Encourage team support with mentors, peer guidance, and networking.
- Provide real tasks early to build confidence and hands-on learning.
A strong onboarding plan blends structure, training, and team support. When done right, it helps new hires grow fast, stay engaged, and drive company success.
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