Creating an Employee Onboarding Checklist with Canva and Google Docs

Welcome to today's guide, where we will learn to create an engaging and effective employee onboarding checklist. We will explore two tools for this task - Canva, a versatile design platform, and Google Docs, a powerful word processing tool. The best part is these programs are free; you only need an account with both platforms.

Designing with Canva

After logging into your Canva account, you'll start with a basic, perhaps even dull, table for your onboarding checklist. But, using Canva's many design options, you can transform this into an eye-catching layout.

Steps to Revamp Your Checklist

1. Start by changing the color of the background for a fresher look.
2. Add a rectangle to create a border effect.
3. Add some color to the table, adjust the border's thickness, and incorporate bullets to highlight essential information.
4. Add color to the status section and insert a check-off circle for each completed task.
5. Widen the notes section for extra details.
6. To give your document more context, include the new hire's name, position, department, and start date.

Adding a Multi-colored Version

Canva offers a multi-colored image in its library to add vibrancy to your document. To apply this to your design, right-click on the image and set it as the background. To make the table's colors match the background, select the top row, hit on color, and choose 'photo colors.' Repeat the process for each column, alternating the colors you like.

If you need a more professional and printer-friendly version, you can also design a black-and-white version of the checklist. Adjust the colors to your preference.

After you finish your design, remember to download it as a PDF form if you plan to print or share it.

Designing with Google Docs

While Canva is a fantastic tool for design, Google Docs has its advantages, including real-time collaboration and dynamic checkboxes.

Steps to Create Your Google Docs Checklist

1. Start by creating a table and adding some color to it.
2. Next, add active checkboxes that can be checked off digitally.

By placing the checkboxes next to the task, the option gets crossed off when you check off the box, providing a visual cue of completion.

If you prefer a more interactive document, consider creating a version with dropdown tabs. This way, instead of having a 'done' or 'not done' status, you can introduce 'completed,' 'in progress,' or 'pending.' All you have to do is click on 'insert' and 'dropdown' and add the titles and different options. You can even change the color of the dropdown tabs to match your document's theme.

One of the benefits of Google Docs is that you can share the document with others and collaborate on it in real-time without downloading it as a PDF.

Now, you know to create an engaging employee onboarding checklist either in Canva or Google Docs. Do you prefer the design-centric approach of Canva, perfect for creating a PDF document, or the dynamic and collaborative capabilities of Google Docs, which can be printed or used electronically?

I would love to hear which option you prefer and why. Feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section below.

Thanks for joining us to create a practical employee onboarding checklist. Stay tuned for more helpful guides and resources.