Are you struggling to make your onboarding process more efficient and engaging? If you are, you’re not alone. Onboarding can be overwhelming for new hires and time-consuming for HR teams and managers. That’s where a well-structured and easy to create Confluence onboarding template comes in. By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have all the know-how to create a template that’ll make your new hires feel right at home from day one.
Why are Confluence Onboarding Templates important?
Let’s start with the obvious, and we’ve all been there, onboarding can be overwhelming for newbies. There’s so much to learn, so many faces to remember, new corporate terminology to get familiar with, and the list goes on! But it shouldn’t be that way. A well-crafted Confluence onboarding template can make the process way easier, giving your fresh recruits a central hub for all the info they need. Not only that, but your onboarding content is the first thing your new hires will see upon joining. And as they say, you don’t have a second chance to make a first impression. So make it count!
What about the HR team and managers? A solid Confluence onboarding template can save your HR team and managers tons of time. Instead of answering the same questions over and over, they can point new hires directly to the onboarding hub. Plus, it ensures everyone is on the same page and gets the same consistent information.
The Ingredients of a Good Confluence Onboarding Template
Good thing about Confluence is that it comes with a blueprint for basically every possible use case. Something you can start with and build upon overtime. And for onboarding, we’ve some templates we can follow, especially the 90 day plan onboarding template. The template is well-structured and contains the essentials to get started. But is it enough? Well… it depends, but it’s never enough as you can always add more. Now let’s see what makes a good onboarding template.
The Welcome Message
First impressions matter! Your Confluence onboarding template should start with a bang. Think of it as a virtual welcome mat. Include a friendly greeting, maybe even a fun team photo or a welcome video from the CEO. For this you can use the layout feature as is the case with the “90 day plan” template or use the panel macro.
Quick Links & Important Resources
Important links should always be at the top of the onboarding template for quick and easy access. Include links to important resources such as FAQ sections, documentation, and more. Links can be included within a dedicated panel macro, customizable buttons, or you can use the different macro lists available to you in Confluence by default.
The Who’s Who (Meet The Team)
Put faces to names with a team directory. Include photos, roles, email address, and maybe a fun fact about each person. It’ll help new hires feel like they’re getting to know their colleagues before they even meet them. Use the User Profile macro which lists team members with photos, roles, and email address.
Planning Ahead & What to Expect
Remember how lost you felt on your first day? let’s not do that to the newbies. Include a clear roadmap of what they can expect along with action they have to perform during their first day, week, and month. Break it down into digestible chunks, so it doesn’t feel like they’re staring at Mount Everest. Within the default template, a table has been used with predefined action items, which is great. But you can further build on that by using the Rodmap Planner macro, which is basically a Gantt Chart where you can add tasks, links, and more.
The FAQ Section
New hires have questions. Lots of them. Create a robust FAQ section in your Confluence onboarding template to address common queries. How do I book a meeting room? Where’s the best coffee nearby? What’s the dress code? Answer these questions before they’re even asked.
What macros can I use for this? If you like to use native Confluence features, then the Expand macro is the way to go. For more advanced customization options, you can use the FAQ Listing macro, available within our app FAQ for Confluence. Directly link to your centralized FAQ hub, this macro helps you display questions by FAQ page and category, and help your new hires easily search and filter questions.
The Feedback Loop
Last but not least, include a way for new hires to provide feedback on their onboarding experience. This could be a simple survey or a dedicated page where they can leave comments. Use this feedback to continually improve your Confluence onboarding template.
Tips for Creating Your Confluence Onboarding Template
Now that we know what goes into a great Confluence onboarding template, let’s talk about how to actually create one.
Keep it Scannable
Nobody likes to read walls of plain text, especially overwhelmed new hires. Use headers, bullet points, macros (native or from Atlassian Marketplace), and plenty of white space to make your Confluence onboarding template easy on the eyes. The Table of Contents macro is your friend here – use it to create a clear structure that’s easy to navigate.
Make it Interactive
Static pages are so boring and hard to navigate. Fill your Confluence onboarding template with interactive elements. Use the buttons macro to link to specific elements and pages. the Task List macro to create checklists for new hires to work through.
You have supplementary information that users might open as they please? The Expand macro is great for hiding additional details that users can reveal if they need more info.
Add Instructions on How to Use the Template
Creating a great onboarding template is just the first step—making sure it’s used correctly is equally important. To ensure your HR team, managers, and new hires get the most out of your Confluence onboarding template, include clear instructions on how to navigate and use it effectively.
Start by adding a simple “How to Use This Template” section at the top of the page. Explain what each section is for, how to fill in any customizable fields, and where to find key resources.
Consider using tooltips or inline comments to provide additional guidance directly on the page. For example, the “90-day plan” Confluence template comes equipped with clear instructions for each section. This keeps the template user-friendly and minimizes confusion.
Make it Searchable
Confluence comes with a powerful search function that helps your new hires find information quickly. They can use the dedicated search bar or advanced search to find what they’ re looking for. You want to give them better access to search? Leverage the Live Search macro. Add a search bar to your template so new hires can quickly find the info they need.
Make it Personal with Dedicated Reports
One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to onboarding. Use the Page Properties macro to create custom fields that can be filled in for each new hire. This could include their start date, team, manager, and any other relevant details.
Make it Visually Appealing
The onboarding template should reflect your brand identity and style. And Confluence comes with a host of personalization options that will help you achieve just that. Use images, icons, and even GIFs to break up text and illustrate key points. Just don’t go overboard – we’re aiming for engaging, not overwhelming.
Keep it Fresh and Updated
An outdated Confluence onboarding template is a waste of time for everyone involved and it raises more questions than it answers. Set reminders to review and update your template regularly. Use the Status macro to show when each section was last updated, so new hires know they’re getting the latest info.
Check out this dedicated article for more general tips on how to create Confluence templates.
Build on Confluence with our Dedicated Onboarding Toolkit
When it comes to crafting a top-notch onboarding experience, sometimes the built-in tools just aren’t enough. That’s where the Atlassian Marketplace steps in. Here are a few add-ons that can elevate your Confluence onboarding template to the next level.
Glossary for Confluence:
Ever feel like your company’s jargon is a language of its own? Glossary for Confluence helps you create unified glossaries within your onboarding space. With different views, search and filtering options, and more, it ensures your new hires are never left guessing.
The best part? You can embed specific glossaries right within your onboarding template using its handy macro, making those tricky terms accessible right when they’re needed.
FAQ for Confluence:
As mentioned earlier, New hires have questions—lots of them. FAQ for Confluence turns those common queries into organized, searchable answers. Think of it as a one-stop shop for everything a new employee might need to know, from booking a meeting room to understanding company policies.
With the ability to categorize and embed specific FAQs directly into your onboarding template, your new hires will have instant access to the information they need, exactly when they need it.
Content Formatting Toolkit for Confluence:
Macros are the pillars of your onboarding template. Confluence has lots of them, but for more personalization and control, you will need a dedicated content formatting app.
With macros like tabs and expanders, you can enhance the layout of your template and use space more effectively.
Progress bars, and page status indicators, help your new hires document their progress, keeping them informed, engaged, and motivated.
To make your template more interactive and visually appealing, you can use macros such as buttons and panels. Use advanced customization options to mirror you brand style and enhance the look & feel of your template.
Check out this dedicated article to get started with Content Formatting Toolkit for Confluence
And there you have it! Everything you need to know about creating a Confluence onboarding template that’ll help your new hires start on the right foot. Remember, a great onboarding experience sets the tone for an employee’s entire journey with your company. So put in the effort to create a template that’s informative, engaging, and reflective of your company culture.
