The candidate has accepted your offer, you have a start date, and you now need to make sure that you are ready to welcome them. I consider the first few weeks on a new job still part of the evaluation process on both sides. So give your company and the candidate the best chance of success by putting some thoughts into their induction period. Remember that this is the connected online generation, so where possible invite them into social media internal groups and stay connected with them.
Once your offer has been accepted and the contract has been returned, you need to set the wheels in motion to welcome a new hire on their first day. If their start date is a few months away, my advice is to start including them in company events, newsletters, and generally keep in touch. A nice touch is a good luck card before their exams and a well done after the exams, once you know they have passed.
The following are some of my suggestions for a welcome...