New Hire Communication Worksheet
Select a company you are familiar with. Imagine that you work for the HR department of the company. You are tasked to develop a message to orient new hires to the company culture, process, procedures, and general information.
Compose a message for new hires using the three-step process outlined in Ch. 5 of Business Communication.
Step 1: Prewriting
Review the AIM planning process in Ch. 5 of Business Communication including the "Chapter Takeaway for Creating Effective Messages."
Analyze the situation described above by answering each of the following questions with 1 to 2 paragraphs:
1. Review the assignment directions above. What is the purpose of the message the HR employee is tasked to write?
2. Who is the audience? What are characteristics shared by the audience that the HR employee should consider when writing the message? What do they already know?
3. Which communication channel(s) would you choose to deliver the message and why?
4. What writing strategies can you use in your writing of the message?
Step 2: Drafting
Research your company's background to know about the culture, processes, and procedures within the organization you selected.
Write a rough draft of the message below using the analysis you did in Step 1.
Make sure your message is appropriate for the purpose and audience (e.g., new hires). Use an outline to help organize your thoughts.
Step 3a: Revising
Copy and paste the message you drafted in Step 2 below. Proofread and edit the message using the "Track Changes" feature under the "Review" tab to show you are actively engaged in proofreading and revision.
Use the following questions as guidance when you proofread the message.
Does the message establish the credibility? Is there some supporting research you may use to deepen the credibility?
Is the message clear? Can your audience read the message without many questions?
Is the message concise? Have you eliminated unnecessary verbiage in the message?
Is the message easy to read? Have you used headings or bulleted lists to increase the clarity of your message?