Before Great Onboarding Comes Preboarding - How To Move the Needle Before Day 1

Organizations invest heavily in onboarding - and with good reason. Companies with strong onboarding see 82% higher retention, 70% productivity gains, and 69% of employees are more likely to stay for three years after a great onboarding experience.

That’s the bar. And yet...

70% of new hires decide within the first month whether they’ll stay - and 29% make that call in their first week.

So yes - onboarding matters. But it’s not enough.

The Wake‑Up Call: If You’re Waiting Until Day 1… You’re Already Late

Up to 65% of employers report candidates ghosting before they even start.
And 80% of new hires feel anxious in the lead-up to Day 1.

This isn’t just a candidate experience issue - it’s a loyalty gap. Companies with a strong preboarding process can boost new hire retention by up to 82% and significantly reduce no‑shows.

If your hiring investment begins at onboarding, you're already behind. The companies doing this well are starting from Day minus 90, or at least Day minus 30.

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Preboarding: Your High‑ROI Toolkit

Preboarding builds early confidence, belonging and momentum. Much of it involves “set up once, scale forever” tactics that deliver outsized returns.

Here’s a summary of PerchPeek’s favourite tools for nailing that preboarding experience.

🧩 General Essentials - For All New Hires

• Buddy & Mentor Pairings
Assign a peer from Day minus 30 - it humanizes the experience and reduces nerves.

• Community Integration
Slack groups, early team calls - connections form social capital before Day 1.

• Comms Cadence & Nudges
Automated checklists, intro emails, culture insights and system-access reminders. Low effort, high signal.

• Welcome Packs & ‘What to Expect’ Kits
Swag, onboarding kits, video walkthroughs - tangible reassurance before Day 1 arrives.

• Pre‑Day 1 Learning
Grant early access to role-relevant resources so hires feel prepared and supported.

🌍 Relocation‑Specific Enhancements - For Those Moving Cities

• Family Engagement
Virtual “parent evenings” for grads and interns foster confidence with loved ones.

• Relocator Buddy Pairings
Connect movers with people who’ve done it - someone who knows the lay of the land.

• 12‑Month Expert Relocation Support
Offer ongoing advice via chat or app - high value, minimal HR burden.

• Local Orientation or Coaching Calls
Structured sessions help newcomers translate cultural and logistical know-how into confidence.

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It’s Not a Perk - It’s Strategic

Preboarding isn’t fluff - it’s talent insurance. With hiring costs in the thousands, even a small boost in retention or engagement pays dividends.

If you can engage someone before they walk through the door - investing from Day minus 90 - you build loyalty, commitment and success.

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Need help? Explore how PerchPeek brings preboarding to life
From amazing new hire relocation coaches to community features, buddy systems and instant messaging expert support - we’re rethinking those first impressions.

👉 Let’s build Day − 90 together.

Learn more via a call

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