Getting new hires up to speed is always a headache—especially when you’re juggling a mix of tools, tribal knowledge, and good intentions. If you’ve landed here, you’re probably tired of onboarding docs that never get read, or checklists that live in a vacuum. You want something interactive, in-the-flow, and actually helpful. This guide walks through exactly how to build onboarding checklists in Spekit that make ramp-up smoother for everyone—no fluff, no hype.
Why bother with interactive onboarding checklists in Spekit?
Let’s be honest: most onboarding resources are ignored after day one. A static PDF or a dusty Google Doc just isn’t going to cut it. Spekit checklists, on the other hand, sit right inside the tools your team already uses (like Salesforce, Slack, or Chrome). That means new hires actually see your guidance when they need it—not three weeks later, buried in their inbox.
You should use Spekit’s interactive checklists if:
- You want new hires to see onboarding steps in context (not just at orientation).
- You’re tired of answering the same basic questions over and over.
- You like tracking real progress, not just guessing if someone saw the docs.
But don’t expect magic. Checklists won’t fix a broken onboarding process or make up for missing documentation. They’re best as a guide on top of a solid foundation.
Step 1: Map out what actually matters
Before you open Spekit, figure out what a new hire truly must do in their first days or weeks. This is not the time to list every possible resource or “nice to know” fact. Stick with what’s essential. Ask yourself:
- What does someone absolutely need to do before they’re productive?
- Where do new hires usually get stuck or confused?
- Which steps require action, not just reading?
Pro tip: Walk through this with a recent hire or someone outside your department. You’ll be surprised what’s unclear if you’re too close to it.
Here’s a simple template to get started:
- Day 1: Set up accounts, complete HR paperwork, intro to key tools.
- Week 1: Product training, team intros, first small project.
- Week 2: Shadow calls, complete first workflow, feedback session.
Don’t overload this list. If you wouldn’t bother tracking it, don’t add it.
Step 2: Set up your checklist in Spekit
Once you know what you want in your checklist, it’s time to build it in Spekit. The process is straightforward, but a few details can trip you up if you’re new to the platform.
How to create a checklist in Spekit
- Log in to Spekit and go to the admin dashboard.
- Navigate to the “Checklists” feature. (This may be called “Paths” or “Journeys” depending on your version—Spekit likes to rename things. If you don’t see it, make sure your account has access.)
- Click “Create Checklist” (or “New Path”). Give it a clear, short name—think “Sales Onboarding: Week 1,” not “Comprehensive Employee Enablement Experience.”
- Add steps for each key task. For each checklist step:
- Use action verbs (“Complete benefits enrollment,” “Watch intro video,” “Schedule 1:1 with manager”).
- Keep descriptions short. If something needs a longer explanation, link to a Spekit “Spot” or another doc.
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Assign an owner if someone besides the new hire is responsible.
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Attach resources directly. Spekit lets you link to internal docs, external links, or “Spots” (their term for tooltips or microlearning). Use this sparingly—too many links, and people will ignore them.
- Set visibility and timing. You can assign the checklist to a specific group (like “New Sales Hires”) and decide if it shows up immediately or on a certain date.
- Save and preview as a new hire would see it. This step is often skipped. Click through each step to make sure it’s clear and not overwhelming.
What to skip: Don’t add tasks that aren’t actionable (“Read our company history”) or that don’t need tracking (“Say hello on Slack”). Overstuffed checklists just get ignored.
Step 3: Make it interactive and in-the-flow
The real value of Spekit checklists is that they can show up inside the tools your team actually uses. But you have to set this up—otherwise you’re just making another checklist nobody sees.
How to make checklists show up where they matter
- Use Spekit’s Chrome Extension: This lets your checklist pop up contextually in web apps like Salesforce, Zendesk, or your own internal tools.
- Pin checklists to specific pages or fields: For example, show the “How to log your first call” step only when a new hire is on the Calls object in Salesforce.
- Set reminders: Spekit can nudge users if they haven’t completed steps after a few days.
Pro tip: Resist the urge to blast the checklist everywhere. Only show it where it’s needed, or people will tune it out fast.
Step 4: Assign, track, and follow up
You’ve built your checklist. Now you need to make sure it’s actually being used.
- Assign the checklist to new hires when they join. You can do this manually, or set it to auto-assign based on group membership.
- Monitor progress: Spekit’s dashboard shows who’s completed which steps. If someone’s stuck, you’ll know.
- Follow up—briefly: If a new hire is lagging, check in. But don’t micromanage; sometimes the blocker is your process, not their motivation.
- Ask for feedback: After the first few hires go through the checklist, ask them what’s missing or unclear. Update accordingly.
What doesn’t work: Don’t just send out the checklist and hope for the best. If nobody’s looking at it, it’s back to square one.
Step 5: Keep it simple and iterate
This is where a lot of teams fall down: they treat onboarding as a one-and-done project. But new processes, tools, and gotchas will come up. Your checklist should be a living document.
- Schedule a quarterly review: Block 30 minutes every few months to prune outdated steps and add new ones based on real feedback.
- Don’t add fluff: If a task isn’t critical for ramp-up, leave it out.
- Share wins and misses: If a particular checklist step solves a common problem (e.g., “How to reset your SSO password”), highlight it to the team.
Pro tip: The best onboarding checklists are short, actionable, and updated often. If it feels like homework, people will ignore it.
What works, what doesn’t, and what to ignore
- Works: Contextual, actionable steps tied to real tasks in your workflow.
- Doesn’t: Long lists of links, generic advice, or steps that rely on someone remembering to check the checklist.
- Ignore: Overly detailed process docs, or anything that won’t help someone get productive faster.
Spekit is good at surfacing the right info at the right time, but it won’t make up for unclear processes or missing documentation. Use it to supplement—not replace—good onboarding habits.
Wrapping up
Building interactive onboarding checklists in Spekit isn’t hard, but it does take some clear thinking. Focus on what new hires really need, keep your checklists short and in the flow of work, and don’t be afraid to trim the fat. Iterate as you go, and remember: the simpler and more actionable your onboarding, the faster everyone ramps up. Don’t overcomplicate it.