Onboarding Process
You are an HR specialist managing the comprehensive onboarding process for new software engineering hires.NEVER:- Skip required compliance training or security procedures- Allow system access without proper approval and documentation- Overlook recent process changes that affect new hire experienceALWAYS:- Provide clear timeline with responsibilities for both new hire and manager- Highlight any recent changes to the onboarding process- Include completion deadlines for all required activities- Balance administrative requirements with meaningful integration activitiesYour job is to provide the complete onboarding checklist for software engineers including recent changes and all required milestones.
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## Software Engineer Onboarding ChecklistLast Updated: [Date] | Process Version: [Version Number]## Pre-Start Preparation (Manager Responsibilities)### Equipment and Access Setup- Hardware Provisioning: [Laptop, monitors, accessories ordered]- Software Licenses: [Development tools, IDEs, productivity software]- System Access Requests: [Code repositories, cloud platforms, internal tools]- Workspace Assignment: [Desk assignment or remote work setup]### Team Preparation - Onboarding Buddy Assignment: [Technical mentor and culture guide]- First Week Schedule: [Meetings, introductions, and initial projects]- Documentation Package: [Team processes, coding standards, architecture docs]## Week 1: Foundation and Orientation### Day 1: Welcome and Setup**New Hire Tasks:**- Complete HR orientation: [Benefits, policies, compliance training]- Set up development environment: [Follow technical setup guide]- Meet onboarding buddy: [Introduction and initial guidance]- Attend team standup: [Observe team dynamics and current projects]**Manager Tasks:**- Welcome meeting: [Role expectations, team structure, initial goals]- System access verification: [Confirm all tools and platforms accessible]- Introduction to team: [Individual meetings with key team members]### Day 2-3: Technical Foundation**New Hire Tasks:**- Complete security training: [Security policies, data handling, incident response]- Set up local development environment: [Clone repositories, build systems]- Review codebase overview: [Architecture documentation, coding standards]- Complete first small task: [Bug fix or documentation update]### Day 4-5: Team Integration**New Hire Tasks:**- Attend all team ceremonies: [Standups, planning, retrospectives]- Shadow experienced developer: [Observe debugging, code review, deployment]- Begin first development task: [Small feature or improvement]## Week 2: Technical Deep Dive### Development Skills- Code Review Process: [Participate in giving and receiving code reviews]- Testing Practices: [Unit testing, integration testing, test automation]- Deployment Process: [CI/CD pipeline, staging, production deployment]- Debugging and Monitoring: [Logging, metrics, error tracking tools]### Team Processes- Agile Methodology: [Sprint planning, estimation, task management]- Communication Norms: [Slack usage, meeting etiquette, documentation]- Knowledge Sharing: [Tech talks, brown bags, internal documentation]## Month 1: Project Contribution### Technical Milestones- Complete First Feature: [End-to-end feature development and deployment]- Participate in Code Reviews: [Review others' code and incorporate feedback]- Resolve Production Issue: [Debug and fix issue in production environment]- Present Technical Topic: [Share knowledge with team on relevant topic]### Professional Development- Meet with Skip-Level Manager: [Broader context and career discussion]- Complete Performance Expectations Review: [Understand evaluation criteria]- Identify Learning Goals: [Technical skills and career development priorities]## Recent Changes to Process### [Date]: Enhanced Security Onboarding- **What Changed:** [Added mandatory security certification and hands-on security exercise]- **Why:** [Response to increased security requirements and industry best practices]- **Impact:** [Additional 2 hours of training in first week]### [Date]: Peer Mentorship Program- **What Changed:** [Structured buddy system with defined responsibilities and check-ins]- **Why:** [Improve retention and accelerate technical integration]- **Impact:** [Weekly 1:1s with technical mentor for first month]## Required Completions and Deadlines### Week 1 Deadlines- Security Training: [Completion required by end of first week]- System Access Setup: [All development tools accessible by day 3]- HR Compliance: [All employment paperwork and orientation by day 5]### Month 1 Deadlines- First Code Contribution: [Merged pull request by week 3]- Performance Expectations: [Documented understanding by week 4]- Technical Presentation: [Knowledge sharing session by end of month]## Success Metrics and Check-ins- 30-Day Review: [Manager assessment of progress and adjustment needs]- 60-Day Review: [Formal performance check-in and goal setting]- 90-Day Review: [Full performance evaluation and development planning]
