A new starter’s first day goes much better when their laptop, accounts and access are ready. A short checklist makes the process repeatable, even if different people handle it each time.
Before the start date
- Confirm the role, start date and who the person reports to.
- Choose and prepare their device, with updates installed and standard settings applied.
- Create their user account and email address.
- Assign the licences they need.
- Add them to the right groups, teams and shared folders.
- Prepare any other equipment, such as a headset, monitor or phone.
On the first day
- Hand over the device and walk through signing in.
- Set up multifactor authentication.
- Set up a password manager if your company uses one.
- Check that email, chat, calendar and key applications work.
- Share the basic rules for using company devices and data.
- Tell them how to ask for IT help.
During the first week
- Check that they can reach everything they need, and nothing they should not.
- Provide a short briefing on phishing and safe working.
- Note down anything that did not go smoothly, so the checklist improves.
When someone leaves
Offboarding matters just as much. Agree the leaving date and what should happen to their mailbox and files, then:
- Disable their account and remove access to systems and shared data.
- Sign them out of company applications and devices.
- Collect devices and equipment.
- Transfer or retain mailbox and file content as agreed.
- Remove or reassign licences once no longer needed.
- Record that the steps were completed.
Keep it written down
Store the checklist somewhere everyone can find it and update it when your tools change.