HR guide: pre-start checklist from offer to first day

Use this checklist so candidates do not stall between offer and day one.

1. Pipeline Decision vs offer letter

Moving Decision to Offer does not email the candidate. Send the letter via Smart Actions → Send offer letter or the Offer tab.

2. Candidate signs conditional offer

Signing creates the HR profile and typically starts onboarding. Confirm the onboarding run exists under /hr/onboarding.

3. Right to work

Collect and verify RTW before the first working day (UK practice). Prompt early. Do not leave RTW to the morning of start.

4. Employment contract

Issue the employment contract only after your organisation's rules are met (commonly signed offer + RTW when required). Keep offer templates separate from employment contract templates under /hr/contracts.

5. Chase onboarding steps

Use Approve / Request changes / Send reminder. Automatic reminders help, but high-risk joiners deserve a human chase.

6. Profile completeness

Emergency contacts, bank details, and required HR fields should be complete enough that day-one access and pay setup are not blocked.

7. Organisation structure

Set departments, role, and reports-to before start so broadcasts and leave routing work on day one.

8. Pre-start ready

Mark Ready to start when contract and RTW gates are clear.

9. Delays

If start slips, update dates, pause communications that assume a start, and tell the hiring manager.

10. Day one

Confirm login works on the correct org host, mandatory channels are correct, and the manager knows the person appears on rota/org chart.

Related

Hiring overview, onboarding, employment contracts, candidate portal articles Support: https://campsite.featurebase.app/help