5 Things I like about Facebook’s New Hire Onboarding

December 10, 2013 by Wally Bock

Onboarding at most companies I’ve seen is simply dreadful. Even worse, they don’t do much to get people working and productive quickly. Facebook is different, at least for engineers. Here are five things I like about what they do.

Facebook starts before the first day. Tom Campos, Facebook’s CIO, says that “you need to get all systems and devices — from an employee’s PC to their phone — calibrated before new hires even report for their first day.”

Facebook starts fast. Campos has what he calls the “45 Minute Rule,” meaning that a new hire should be working on something productive within 45 minutes of walking in the door.

Facebook onboarding takes long enough. “Long enough for what?” you ask. Long enough so that by the end of the six weeks of “bootcamp” both Facebook and the new hire know if there’s a real fit.

Facebook sees cultural orientation as a key goal of onboarding. Like training, onboarding should be a carrier of culture. Mike Swift of the Mercury News describes Facebook’s six week bootcamp for people who will touch code as: “one part employee orientation, one part software training program and one part fraternity/sorority rush.”

Facebook allows for choice. When bootcamp is over, the new hire chooses his or her job assignment and product team.

Facebook has some things going for it that you may not. So instead of copying what they do point for point, set some simple objectives for your onboarding. Start before the first day so people can get productive fast. Then take enough time with the new person so they absorb the culture of your place.

For more on Facebook’s talent management, read Dr. John Sullivan’s four part series

Facebook’s Talent Management Practices? They’re Simply Amazing

Facebook’s Focus: Smart Talent Practices (the Smarter, the Better)

Facebook’s Difference: A Unique Approach For Managing Employees

Facebook’s Way: Transparency, Openness, and a Knack For Solving Problems

Wally Bock is a coach, a writer and President of Three Star Leadership.

Posted in Talent Management

If You Enjoyed This Post...

You'll love getting updates when we post new articles on leadership development, 360 degree feedback and behavior change. Enter your email below to get a free copy of our book and get notified of new posts:

Follow Envisia Learning:

RSS Twitter linkedin Facebook

Are You Implementing a Leadership Development Program?

Call us to discuss how we can help you get more out of your leadership development program:

(800) 335-0779, x1