Accelerate New Hire Success with a Buddy System

May 28, 2025 | Ignovative

Remember your first week at a new job? Have you ever felt lost, even after the orientation session? Alongside the excitement and the new opportunities, those early days often come with stress as you try to navigate an unfamiliar work environment. New hires aren’t just learning tasks; they’re also figuring out when to ask questions, who to approach, and how to interpret the unwritten rules. That stress can be even more intense for introverts or international employee adapting to a new culture.

Of course, HR and your manager are there to support you with policies and job-related responsibilities. But how often can you ask your new manager a small question? Is it always easy to reach HR without an appointment? And how do you learn the cultural norms that aren’t covered in any handbook?

This is where a buddy system can make a meaningful difference. It helps new hires transition more smoothly while fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

What is the role of an onboarding buddy?

A buddy is not a mentor. While mentors support career development, performance, and job-specific tasks, a buddy is a peer who helps a new employee settle into the company culture.

Ideally, a buddy is someone who has been at the company for a while and is easily accessible, perhaps sitting nearby in the same office or available to regular check-ins. Their role is not to teach job skills or assess performance (as those responsibilities belong to the manager). Instead, buddies provide informal guidance that is often missing from the employee handbook.

The buddy role is short-term and essential in the first few weeks. Buddies work alongside managers and HR, complementing their support by helping new employees feel more informed, connected and confident.

What kind of support can buddies offer?

A buddy, for example, can:

Introduce new hires to colleagues and explain team dynamics;

Explain who to contact for different issues;

Share insights on company history, values, and workplace norms;

Offer advice on navigating informal aspects of company life.

Essentially, buddies are someone new hires can turn to with quick questions or for a friendly chat when things feel unfamiliar. With a buddy’s help, new employees feel seen, heard, and supported from day one.

Why is the buddy system so effective?

Here are just a few advantages:

Immediate support: Buddies are a go-to resource for everyday questions. Even if they don’t have the answer, they can point the new hire to the right person.

Faster integration: Personalized support and early social connections reduce stress and isolation, helping new hires feel they belong.

Higher productivity: The sooner a new hire feels settled, the sooner they can thrive. This can lead to greater productivity in the long run.

Mutual growth: While supporting new hires, buddies strengthen their own communication and interpersonal skills. Over time, this can help identify team members with strong listening and empathy skills, valuable traits in emerging leaders.

How to set up a buddy system?

If you want to implement this system in your organization, here are three essential steps to get you started:

Seek volunteers. Do not assign the role. Ask for willing participants. For first-timers buddies, consider offering small incentives, like a reduced workload for a few weeks or a gift card.

Start small. Begin with one department, especially in larger organizations. Collect feedback from participants to refine the process, then expand the system gradually.

Set clear expectations. Assign a buddy before the new hire starts. Provide a simple onboarding buddy-guide that outlines responsibilities, sample timelines, and conversation tips. Emphasize that this is a supportive role, not a substitute for formal training or core job duties.

Proven Success

Companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Zapier use buddy systems to improve onboarding. These programs are effective because they include clear goals, defined responsibilities, and structured timelines. As a result, new hires report higher job satisfaction, and companies see better retention rates.

Would you like to explore how a buddy system could work at your company? Ignovative can support you in building a successful program tailored to your needs.