Preboarding That Builds Trust (That Doesn’t Require an HR Team to execute)

Why Preboarding Matters (Even If You're a Tiny Team)

Most early-stage startups obsess over recruiting but drop the ball between offer-accept and Day 1. That gap is where momentum fades and second-guessing creeps in. Preboarding is your chance to reinforce the excitement, start building trust, and lay the groundwork for a strong ramp.

You don’t need a big HR budget (or any budget at all) to make it work. Most of these ideas are free, simple, and just require intention. The goal isn’t polish…it’s making new hires feel like you actually care.

5 Easy Ways to Preboard Without Adding Overhead

1. Send a “What to Expect in Week 1” Email

Outline what their first week will look like. Add links, reading, or what to prep. Show them you’ve thought it through.“Day 1 is mostly orientation + tech setup. On Day 2 you’ll meet the rest of the GTM team, and by Day 3 we’ll dive into product deep-dives and shadowing.”

2. Share an Internal Resource Folder

Give them early access to docs that help them ramp faster:

• Pitch decks

• ICP profiles

• Org chart

• Company values

• Team bios

3. Record a Welcome Loom

Have the founder, hiring manager, or team send a quick Loom to say hi and share why you're excited they joined.

4. Set Up a Group Text or Slack Chat

If your team is small, spin up a 1:1 or small group thread where they can ask questions casually or just feel included. No need to wait until their account is officially set up.If security is a concern, you can add them as an “external connection” and only give them access to a specific channel used for preboarding.

5. Ask Teammates to Welcome Them on LinkedIn

Ask a few team members (ideally peers or future collaborators) to send a quick connect message/DM on LinkedIn:“Heard you’re joining! Pumped to work together. let me know if you want to hop on a quick intro call before Day 1 or if you have any questions I can answer.”

Final Thought

You don’t need a polished onboarding program to make new hires feel supported…just a little care, some structure, and a few intentional touchpoints before Day 1. We help early-stage teams build simple, scalable onboarding and preboarding systems that make a big impact without creating more busywork.

About ClosedWon Talent

ClosedWon Talent is a specialized sales recruiting firm that helps growth focused companies hire top GTM talent. We partner with founders, revenue leaders, and investors to build high performing sales teams across SaaS and beyond.

What sets us apart is the ClosedWon Method, a proven recruiting framework built on speed, precision, and transparency. We combine deep industry expertise with a curated candidate network to deliver shortlists of qualified, motivated sales professionals fast. Our team does not just fill roles, we act as embedded partners who understand how to assess selling style, territory experience, and growth potential based on each clients' specific needs.

Learn more at www.closedwontalent.com