Onboarding New Staff: How to Get Them Productive in Week One
The first week sets the tone. Here is a practical onboarding checklist to get new team members contributing from day one.
Hiring is only half the battle. How you onboard a new team member determines how quickly they become a productive, confident contributor to your salon.
Before They Start
Set up their Trimsy account and assign the right services to their profile before their first day. Send them their login details and encourage them to explore the staff app in their own time. The less time you spend on admin in week one, the more time you spend on the actual work.
Assign a buddy — an experienced staff member who will answer questions throughout the first fortnight.
Day One: Orientation
Walk through the physical space, introduce the team, and explain the culture and standards you expect. Cover:
- How the queue works and what their queue view looks like
- How to mark a client as arrived, in service, and completed
- How checkout and payment works (Square Terminal or cash)
- Where to find the schedule and how to see their upcoming bookings
Keep it practical and hands-on. Have them shadow a senior stylist for at least half the day.
Days Two to Five: Supervised Practice
Let them take clients with a senior staff member nearby. Check in after each service. This is the period where they build confidence and you identify any knowledge gaps.
Set clear expectations about what "good" looks like — time on service, client communication, checkout process.
Week Two: Independent With Check-Ins
By week two they should be running their queue independently. Set a brief daily check-in for the first month to catch issues early and recognise wins.
What Trimsy Makes Easier
New staff can see their schedule, their queue, and their client history from the moment they log in. They do not need to ask someone to look up whether a client has been before — the information is right there.