Onboarding - our prime opportunity to make a great impression! At Probatix, we look at it as the process that sets the tone for the rest of the employee's experience with us.

This is a big part of our talent acquisition strategy, since it ensures our new talents are welcomed the right way, and given the adequate tools and knowledge to start on the right foot - after all, we aim to not only acquire talent, but to retain it. 

In this sense, we use the 30-60-90 plan to ensure new employees have a clear roadmap to follow, while extending the onboarding experience: focusing on our company processes, culture and goals during the first 30 days, followed by a shift towards taking on more responsibilities and ownership until the 60 days mark, and finally being fully integrated into the team and capable of managing complex projects.

Even though startups can tend to be fast-paced and sometimes overlook the importance of onboarding (due to limited time and resources), an investment on this stage of the employment will lead to both time and cost savings in the long term. Based on this belief, we prepare new joiners to feel motivated and make valuable contributions to the team early on.

We have been receiving positive feedback from new hires who appreciate how ‘from the beginning, there is a clear sense of pride among the team regarding the mission and the product, as well as an openness to change when necessary’ - this feedback highly supports our commitment to continually improve this first stage of a new team member.

Our People & Culture Team has built the onboarding strategy having in mind certain requirements, which have been leading to great outcomes:

Indeed, getting started at a new job can be overwhelming - it involves new processes, new people, new space and sometimes, completely new tasks and backgrounds… it is a lot to take in, we know!

Therefore, our onboarding process is designed to be smooth and comprehensive:

👀 First Impressions - Pre-Boarding at Probatix

Even before a new employee starts, we make sure there is a communication flow and that we have all the necessary information to provide the best possible experience - starting with our welcome box with a useful kit for the daily work routine, but also some other gifts to add some fun to the experience.

Besides having access to our People & Culture Page, where they can share information and ask for support from the beginning, we gather important details about their needs and preferences, as well as any necessary personal information and documents. These will shape, in a personalized way, the way the People & Culture Team manages the new employee. 

During pre-boarding, the introductions start: We share some information about ourselves, and our new joiner is invited to share something about them. We also provide a brief itinerary for the first few days so that they can prepare accordingly.

👣 Orientation - Getting comfortable at Probatix

On a new employee's first day, we give them a warm welcome and help them set up their office materials, right before a first casual lunch with the team.

We make sure to walk them through Probatix culture, values, and mission, so they understand what we stand for and how they fit in - all this supported with a ‘First Day Quizz’: a more dynamic way of learning about us and our story. There is immediate access to our employee handbook - our little guide for newcomers through which they can see our most interesting information and insights (such as our ‘Welcome to Berlin’ guide).

The second day of onboarding is all about introducing our products and meeting with the onboarding manager, going through our ‘First Day Quizz’ to further explain Probatix journey.

Still during the first week, the new joiners learn about our internal processes with the People & Culture Team, and have the opportunity to hear from our CEO and COO, Daniel and Philipp.

After the first week, there is a review with the onboarding manager: this is a conversation about our new employee's progress, and goal setting for the future - this review is not focused on work or tasks, but on how the new team member felt throughout these first days, evaluating what might be needed to refine.

💡 Training - The how to’s at Probatix

During the first few weeks on the job, our new hires receive training on the tools and systems they need, as well as both more technical and soft skills training, depending on the case and possible requests (e.g leadership).

We give access to all the necessary resources and materials, such as training manuals and unlimited online courses through Udemy. Besides this, these days are all about settling in and connecting with the new colleagues, providing a chance to build strong relationships within the team - since we have at least one small team event per month, there is no shortage of opportunities!

👥 Performance and Feedback - Ongoing support at Probatix

After the first month, there is a general evaluation: At this point, the team manager is in charge, and the feedback is focused towards the work done and the comprehension of the company and the tasks.

We are committed to provide ongoing support to our new hires to ensure they are comfortable and have everything they need to succeed. This includes regular check-ins with their manager and, in most cases, mentorship from more experienced team members.

As stated before, we collect feedback from the beginning, so we can continue to improve this process. We also evaluate performance and provide new team members with feedback, so they know where they are excelling at and where there is a chance to improve.

The results?

Our onboarding process has been successful in helping new hires get up to speed and become productive members of our team. We have received positive feedback from employees who appreciate how thorough and supportive the process is, and we are committed to be continually improving along the way.

We are glad that by prioritizing this as one of the main pillars in our People & Culture strategy, we can not only help our team reach their full potential, but also foster a culture of collaboration and growth that benefits everyone at Probatix.

We strongly believe in our efforts towards this people-first culture, always looking for better informed solutions that lead to even better outcomes.