Starting a new job should feel exciting, not overwhelming, but too often onboarding feels like an awkward improv session with no script. It doesn’t have to be this way. What if we approached onboarding like a West End production, with clear cues, purposeful storytelling, and unforgettable moments that build confidence and connection?

Onboarding is often treated as an afterthought, but it’s the first impression new developers have of your team. It can set the tone for their entire experience. I’ve built onboarding processes that reduced ramp-up time and improved team satisfaction, drawing on lessons from scaling multiple engineering teams. We should reframe onboarding as an opportunity to connect, inspire, and empower new hires from day one.

In this talk, we’ll explore how you can design an onboarding experience that helps reduce a new starter's cognitive load, guides them through their first day, week, and month, and allows them to become part of the team in no time. You'll leave with a framework for crafting onboarding processes that are both efficient and welcoming, transforming your team's first impression into an unforgettable opening act.