Onboarding kits are carefully chosen packages with necessary merch items and information intended to properly welcome and integrate new employees into a business. These kits are essential because they establish the tone for your arrivals' experience and help them feel like they belong right away. By making workers feel appreciated and ready, well-designed onboarding kits can significantly increase job happiness and productivity.
What are Onboarding Kits?
New hires are given specially created bundles called "onboarding kits" to ease their transfer into the organization. Essential goods including branded apparel, office supplies, welcome letters, and educational materials about the company's principles and culture are usually included in these kits. By providing these kits, you successfully convey the value of every person to your company right away.
Consider yourself a recent hire at a state-of-the-art tech corporation. A branded water bottle, a high-end notebook, laptop accessories, and a guidebook outlining the company's culture and standards are all included in the onboarding kit that you receive on your first day. This kind act not only gives you the resources you need to get off to a good start, but it also makes you feel like an important member of the team right away.
The essential purpose of onboarding kits is to provide new employees with the tools and support they need to begin their journey successfully. These kits serve as a physical representation of your company’s values and commitment to its employees. They symbolize more than just a collection of items; they reflect the thought and care you put into welcoming fresh talent.
Terms Related to Onboarding Kits
Understanding these terms is essential for anyone looking to efficiently implement or improve onboarding kits in their organization.
- Custom Merchandise: Tailored items branded with your company’s logo, enhancing brand recognition.
- Welcome Packet: A collection of documents and materials designed to greet and inform new hires.
- Company Swag: Branded merchandise included in onboarding kits to boost morale and make new employees feel part of the team.
- Role-Specific Items: Tools and equipment provided to meet the unique needs of a particular position.
- Eco-Friendly Products: Sustainable materials used in the kits to reflect corporate responsibility and environmental commitment.
- Digital Onboarding: Electronic resources and modules complementing physical kits, facilitating seamless remote integration.
- Feedback Loop: A structured method for collecting new hire feedback to continuously enhance the onboarding experience.
- Local Sourcing: The practice of obtaining kit components from local businesses, promoting community involvement.
- Wellness Inclusions: Items aimed at supporting new employees’ health and work-life balance, such as ergonomic accessories.
- Cultural Engagement: Elements included in kits that introduce and align employees with company culture and values.
Examples of Onboarding Kits
Here are some inspiring examples of onboarding kits that have successfully set new employees up for success:
Google: Playful and Iconic
Google’s onboarding kit perfectly reflects the company’s creative culture. New “Nooglers” (new Googlers) receive a colourful cap, a branded T-shirt, notebook, mug, water bottle, and socks decorated with Google’s signature dots. The bright palette and quirky items communicate friendliness and openness—values at the heart of Google’s work culture.
Meta: Minimalist and Connected
Meta’s onboarding kit captures the company’s spirit of openness and community. Presented in a simple cardboard box that reads “Welcome to Meta,” the kit includes a navy-blue cap, a branded pouch, and a cylindrical “Meta Culture Kit”, symbolizing the company’s focus on values, collaboration, and shared mission. A personalized welcome card completes the set, reinforcing a sense of belonging.
Uber: Sophisticated and Functional
Uber’s onboarding kit combines practicality with a professional look. It typically includes a black notebook, reusable coffee cup, glass water bottle, bamboo pen, and a welcome letter, wrapped in minimalist black-and-white branding. Every item is designed for daily use, reminding employees of Uber’s commitment to efficiency, movement, and smart design. The focus on utility makes this kit ideal for both office and remote employees.
Canon: Precision and Professionalism
The accuracy and artistry that characterize Canon's goods are evident in the onboarding kit. The kit comes with a sleek black polo shirt, notebook, mug, lanyard, USB drive, clock, and stationery. It is presented in an attractive black container with red accents. In addition to welcoming new hires, this onboarding kit introduces them to the company's longstanding commitment to quality and meticulousness.
Frequently Asked Questions about Onboarding Kits
How can onboarding kits benefit the organization?
Onboarding kits enhance the employee experience from day one. They help new hires feel welcomed, valued, and better integrated into company culture, which leads to higher engagement, productivity, and long-term retention.
What should be included in an onboarding kit?
A balanced kit typically contains a mix of practical and branded items — such as notebooks, pens, mugs, and apparel — along with digital resources like welcome letters, company guides, or messages from leadership. For tech teams, items like chargers and headphones can also be included.
Are onboarding kits relevant for remote employees?
Absolutely. Sending onboarding kits to remote employees strengthens emotional connection and helps them feel part of the team even from afar. It replaces the in-office welcome moment and reinforces the company’s care and professionalism.
How to make onboarding kits more personalized?
Include a personal note from the manager or CEO, tailor some items to the employee’s role, and use branded design elements that reflect your culture. For example, tech teams might get smart gadgets, while creative teams might receive sketchbooks or branded accessories.
How frequently should onboarding kits be updated?
Refresh the contents annually to align with evolving company culture, branding, and technological advancements. This keeps the experience fresh and relevant.
How can we justify the cost of onboarding kits?
Think of onboarding kits as an investment in employee engagement and retention. A positive onboarding experience reduces early turnover, increases satisfaction, and strengthens the employer brand, saving the company far more in long-term hiring and training costs than the kit itself.
If your organization is ready to create a good first impression, Overhood global merch company can assist. From idea to completion, we create onboarding kits that represent your brand's personality and values.
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Looking forward to creative collaborations!
Love, Overhood
