Behind the scenes: 4 steps to integrate newcomers & firsthand stories

Starting a new job is exciting. But it can be a bit stressful, too.

At Chatfuel, we've developed an inclusive and friendly onboarding process to ensure our new teammates feel welcome from day one, quickly get up to speed, and build connections with colleagues. Here's how we do it at Chatfuel.

Step 1: Welcome document

On the first day, we send a special welcome document to the new hire to give them a strong head start. It includes initial feedback from hiring managers, introduces the team, and provides an overview of our processes and tools.

Step 2: Product onboarding

Newcomers undergo product onboarding, which involves creating their chatbot from start to finish. This helps them understand the product deeply and experience its benefits firsthand.

Step 3: Regular check-ins

We regularly meet with new hires one-on-one to see how they feel and support them if needed.

Step 4: Daily and weekly meetings

New employees join their team's daily stand-ups and general meetings in the first few days. During their first week, we introduce them to our company-wide demo meeting and warmly welcome them.

This simple approach helps us to integrate newcomers efficiently, making them feel valued and part of our company culture from day one.

First-person stories: what our newcomers say about their onboarding and adaptation experience

When I joined the team, I was warmly welcomed. In the first month, we had two meetings. The first was an introduction where I got to know everyone on the Support team. The second meeting was a "party meeting," which was fun because we played Kahoot and learned more about each other.

My adaptation process was quite fast and adaptable. Chatfuel's comprehensive work structure for each area of the business, particularly for support, is perfectly designed to guide you in completing your tasks accurately.  The tools available are easily understood, and communication was key in adapting quickly. My teammates were always willing to help me, making the adaptation process great and much easier.

Initially, I felt a bit shy, but everyone felt the same when starting in a new place. However, my teammates were the best you could ask for—not only because they were so helpful but also because of their personalities.

The product onboarding was indeed a bit challenging at first. My first attempt at using the chatbot was less than ideal; I struggled to understand how to create a simple one. But thankfully, we have a robust onboarding process that covers the basics of Chatfuel and customer support. I spent a lot of time reading in the first weeks, and after about a month, I started to grasp everything about Chatfuel bots.

When I joined the team at Chatfuel, I felt welcome right away. Everyone was friendly, making my start easy and nice. I love my team; they are kind and always ready to help.

I began by learning how everything worked, reading the knowledge base, and shadowing my coworkers to better understand everything. The product onboarding was a bit overwhelming due to the amount of information. But with practice, it got easier, and I eventually got the hang of it.

When I started working, what really stood out was that work was finally interesting; only my first job felt like that. The team welcomed me warmly, making sure I got to know everyone. Overall, people were quite sociable, which made the transition smoother.

My adaptation process was pretty easy. There was plenty of documentation and code to refer to, which helped a lot. It was great to talk with Fedor, the Chatfuel CEO, and my team, especially Igor and Nick, were very helpful. Honestly, I felt comfortable and part of the team right away.

My first most vivid memory of starting work at Chatfuel is when I was added to the kudos channel in Slack. It's a place where everyone can shout and praise colleagues for a job well done. I was amazed to be in a place where people give public praise. It makes everyone feel seen and appreciated, which is very inspiring.

Of course, I was nervous about getting along with my teammates because I was joining a team that had been working without me for a while. Some time was spent getting to know each other, but I fit in pretty fast. Thanks to my awesome, friendly, and thoughtful colleagues, it was a smooth process.

Wrapping up

So here are the key ingredients for successful newcomer adaptation: provide essential information, ensure hands-on experience with the product, and conduct regular check-ins to help new teammates get off to a great start. Our team members' stories prove this approach works. By fostering a welcoming atmosphere and teamwork, we're making Chatfuel a place where everyone can open up and make an impact.