Imagine how it feels from a new employee’s perspective when, after just signing a contract for a new role, they receive a package at their home address from their new employer. They open it, feel delighted, and tell everyone about their surprise, their new role and their wonderful new organisation. They’ve just created an early ambassador.
Many companies say that they leave the welcome gift for their first day at work. But there’s so much more impact when they receive it at home before they start!
To get you thinking about what you could do, here’s a few examples that we’ve implemented over the years:
- A stationery company sent out a store voucher (encouraging the new person to go into a store, experience the environment and explore the range
- A beverage company sent a sample box of 12 different types of drinks they produce (helping the new person become familiar with the different drinks they make)
- An airline sent out a mock boarding pass showcasing the staff travel benefit (inspiring the new person and reinforcing their decision to join)
- A consulting company sent out whatever branded items they had left over from events or client gifts, eg. game, water bottle, cap, lunchbox (giving them a sense of early belonging).
The idea is to surprise and delight them, get them talking about your company, and showcase what makes your company unique with something that reflects your culture and/or core business in a tangible way.
Consider what you could do to create early ambassadors, before they even start:
- How could you get them involved in what you offer?
- How could you make your service, or a benefit, into something tangible?
- How could you make it exciting, personal and/or talkable?
