Two Truths & a Twist
Each person shares two true facts and one believable fib. The group votes on which one is the twist.
Debrief · Which truth surprised you most?
FREE · FOR HR & PEOPLE TEAMS · PRINT-READY
The Employee Induction Toolkit
Seven ready-to-use tools that turn Day 1 into a story your new joiners will tell for years. Fill them in online, pick only what you need and print it or save it as a PDF. No sign-up needed.
7printable tools
12icebreaker cards
90days of onboarding covered
Tool 01
Induction Program Names
24 creative names for your induction program, plus a name mixer.
Lift-off
Journey
Belonging
Growth
The name mixer
One word from each jar. Hit shuffle until one makes you smile.
Bold+Start
Fill in, then print
- Keep it 1–2 words. Easy to hashtag.
- Add the batch: “Launchpad · Jan 27”.
- Brand it everywhere: kit, lanyard, email.
- Test it on 3 recent joiners first.
Tool 02
Icebreaker Cards
12 printable icebreakers for new joiners, with time, group size and debrief.
12 of 12 cards selected for print
The Name Story
Share the story behind your name: who chose it, what it means, and any nickname that stuck.
Debrief · What did you learn that a CV never says?
Common Thread
In 3 minutes, find 3 things all four of you share. No obvious ones (we all work here!).
Debrief · Which thread was hardest to find?
Desert Island Desk
You can keep only 3 things on your desk forever. What are they, and why?
Debrief · Whose desk would you love to visit?
Superpower Swap
Tell your partner your work superpower, and one superpower you'd love to borrow from someone.
Debrief · Who in the room could teach you yours?
Silent Line-up
Without speaking, line up by birthday (Jan to Dec). Then again by distance from home to office.
Debrief · How did you talk without words?
Map Pins
Pin your hometown on a big map and share one dish everyone must try from there.
Debrief · Which place is now on your travel list?
Show & Tell Object
Grab one object within arm’s reach and tell the story of why it matters to you.
Debrief · Which object told the biggest story?
Speed Connect
Pairs get 2 minutes with a prompt card, then rotate. Five rounds, five new colleagues.
Debrief · Who would you grab coffee with tomorrow?
This or That
Call out pairs (chai or coffee, mountains or beach). People move left or right, or use emojis online.
Debrief · Which split surprised you?
Hot Seat Lite
Each joiner takes 60 seconds of quick-fire, light questions from the group. Pass allowed once.
Debrief · What answer made you laugh?
Team Timeline
On a wall timeline, everyone adds a sticky note for a career moment that shaped them.
Debrief · What patterns do you see in the room?
Tool 03
Networking Bingo
A “find someone who…” bingo card. Every printed copy is shuffled.
Every copy is shuffled, so no two joiners get the same card.
Has lived in 3+ cities
Speaks 3 or more languages
Has a pet with a funny name
Can cook a signature dish
Has run a 5K or more
Plays a musical instrument
Was born in the same month as you
Drinks chai, never coffee
Has a hidden talent
Has visited 10+ countries
Wakes up before 6 am
Has been on TV or radio
YOUR BUDDYfree square
Codes or builds for fun
Has a side hustle
Can solve a Rubik's cube
Joined in the last 30 days
Has been here 5+ years
Reads before bed
Has met a celebrity
Can name 5 company values
Supports the same cricket team
Has planted a tree this year
Knows the best lunch spot nearby
Can do a cartwheel
Rule 1One name per person. No repeats.
Rule 2Ask one follow-up question every time.
Prize ideaLine = coffee voucher. Full card = lunch with a leader.
Tool 04
Day 1 Run-Sheet
A minute-by-minute first-day schedule and pre-joining checklist.
Red-carpet arrival
Welcome kit, team cheer, photo at the welcome wall
Leader welcome
15 min from a senior leader: why we exist, what's next
Break the ice
Pick 2 icebreaker cards from Tool 02
Office treasure hunt
Clues to the pantry, HR desk, fire exits, best chai
Buddy lunch
Buddy + 2 teammates. Company pays, no laptops
Tools & set-up
Email, HRMS, Slack, payroll forms done together
Networking bingo
Tool 03 across the floor, prize at 16:00
Manager 1:1
First-week goals + “how do you like to work?”
Wrap & wow
Tomorrow's agenda, a handwritten note, team photo shared
Tool 05
Buddy Program Pack
Buddy pledge, weekly conversation starters and a 4-week tracker.
The buddy pledge
I, , promise to be ’s go-to person for the next 30 days. No question is silly, no coffee is skipped, and I will make sure they never eat lunch alone.
Conversation starters, week by week
Week 1
- What surprised you most this week?
- Who haven't you met yet that you should?
- What is one thing that confused you?
Week 2
- Which tool or process still feels clunky?
- What do you miss from your last job?
- What would make Fridays better?
Week 3
- Who has helped you most so far?
- What does a great week look like for you?
- Any meeting you could skip?
Week 4
- What are you proud of this month?
- What do you want to learn next?
- How can I be a better buddy?
Red flags to watch for
- Skipping team lunch 3+ days in a row
- “I’m not sure what I should be doing”
- Camera off and silent in every meeting
Tool 06
30-60-90 Day Planner
A fill-in growth plan for the joiner and their manager.
Days 1–30
Learn
30- 3 people I must meet
- 2 things I want to understand deeply
- My first quick win
Days 31–60
Contribute
60- A project I will own
- A skill I will sharpen
- Feedback I will ask for
Days 61–90
Lead
90- An idea I will pitch
- Someone I will help onboard
- My big stretch goal
Tool 07
Onboarding Pulse Cards
Tear-off feedback cards for Week 1, Day 30 and Day 90.
Week 1
First impressions
- I felt genuinely welcomed on Day 1
- I know who to ask when I am stuck
- My laptop and tools worked from the start
- I understand what's expected of me this month
One thing we should never change:
Day 30
Settling in
- I have a clear picture of my role
- My buddy has been truly useful
- I have had at least one real win
- I feel part of my team, not a visitor
One thing that would have helped earlier:
Day 90
Fully in
- I would recommend joining here to a friend
- I can see where I grow from here
- My manager gives me regular feedback
- I feel my ideas are heard
If you ran induction, what would you add?
Add tools to build your kit
Induction toolkit FAQs
What should an employee induction program include?
A strong induction covers four stages: pre-joining (welcome email, buddy, system access), a memorable Day 1 (leader welcome, icebreakers, buddy lunch, manager 1:1), a structured 30-60-90 day plan, and regular feedback pulses at Week 1, Day 30 and Day 90. This toolkit gives you a printable tool for each stage.
What are good icebreakers for new employees?
Low-pressure, story-based icebreakers work best on Day 1: Two Truths & a Twist, The Name Story, Common Thread and Superpower Swap. Save high-energy ones like Silent Line-up or This or That for after lunch. Each card in this toolkit shows time, group size and energy level.
What is a good name for an induction program?
Short, positive, one-to-two-word names work best because they are easy to brand and hashtag. Popular choices include Launchpad, Base Camp, Day Zero, The Huddle and Bright Start. Add the batch date, for example “Launchpad · Jan 27”, to create a sense of cohort.
How do I run networking bingo at induction?
Give every joiner a bingo card of “find someone who…” prompts. They collect a different colleague’s name for each square and must ask one follow-up question. The first complete line wins a small prize. Our generator shuffles every copy so no two cards match.
Is this induction toolkit free to use?
Yes. Every tool is free to print, copy and use inside your organisation. Pick only the tools you need and print them straight from your browser, or save them as a PDF.
Can The Thought Bulb run our induction day for us?
Yes. We design and facilitate induction experiences, icebreaker sessions and team activities for new-joiner batches of every size across India, in person or virtual.
Want us to run Day 1 for you?
We design induction experiences, icebreaker sessions and team activities that new joiners talk about for years, in person or virtual.
Get a free quote