How to onboard a new technician

Before day one

• Paperwork and payroll set up
• Tools, uniform, and vehicle access ready
• Login and access to your scheduling and job system created
• Their first week's schedule planned out

Day one: set expectations

Spend the first day on the things that don't show up on a job sheet: how you treat customers, your standards for quality and cleanup, safety expectations, and how you communicate. People rise to clear expectations and flounder without them.

Shadow before solo

Put the new tech alongside an experienced one for real jobs before sending them out alone. They'll pick up how you actually do things — the parts no manual captures — and you'll see how they work before trusting them with a customer.

Teach the system, not just the trade

A skilled tech who can't update a job, capture photos, or close out paperwork still creates back-office chaos. Walk them through how to see their schedule, update job status, log materials and time, and document the work. Make it part of the job, not an afterthought.

Build in independence gradually

Move from shadowing to simple solo jobs to full responsibility over a few weeks. Check in often early, then ease off as they prove themselves. Sudden "you're on your own" is how mistakes and resentment happen.

What they should be able to do by week four

• Run a standard job start to finish on their own
• Communicate with customers to your standard
• Update job status and capture photos and notes without reminders
• Record materials and time accurately
• Know when and who to ask for help