University Development and Alumni Relations

What Is an Onboarding Buddy?

We enhance the new hire onboarding experience by assigning a Buddy who provides advice and guidance on the different aspects of working in UDAR. A Buddy is also a sounding board who offers encouragement as the new hire acclimates to the new culture and workplace, providing informal counseling about key tasks, key players, unspoken rules, obscure acronyms, and more.

What a Buddy is NOT

A buddy is not to assume any of the following roles:

• Mentor: Someone, typically more experienced, who is involved with the all-around professional development of an individual, providing skill-based job shadowing or guidance.
• Manager: Someone responsible for the new hire's job performance. The Buddy should direct any queries regarding job performance to the manager.

Key Attributes of a Buddy

• Communicator: A buddy should encourage open communication. The buddy should possess strong interpersonal skills and be capable of providing relevant information to the new hire and encouraging a process of continued, self-directed learning.
• Role Model: The buddy should be a model employee and exemplify the values of the department.
• Motivated: The buddy should have a positive outlook on their work and use that perspective to help build self-confidence and loyalty in the new hire. The buddy should lead by example.
• Familiar with the Organizational Culture: The buddy has worked at UDAR and UC Berkeley for at least eighteen months to two years and is familiar with the organizational culture of UDAR and UC Berkeley.
• High Performer*: The buddy guides the new hire in many situations based on their experience and knowledge obtained in the work environment.

*Buddy must have an Achieve Together(link is external) "Well Done" rating or higher.

Selection Process

The manager approves the buddy nominated by hiring managers in accordance with the buddy system guidelines based on the defined key attributes. A volunteer buddy meets some of the requirements from the Inclusion and Belonging criterion of Achieve Together(link is external).

Buddy Responsibilities

In assisting a new hire, a buddy’s responsibility is to help welcome the new hire and reaffirm their decision to join our team. The buddy also serves as a valuable resource by creating a trusting relationship and maintaining confidentiality.

Other Responsibilities

• Meet with the new hire during the first week of employment at UDAR.
• Establish a rapport with the new hire.
• Have a check-in or coffee chat with the new hire once a week for six weeks. You can switch monthly or as needed for three to six months.
• Remind new hire to use the Working at UDAR Handbook(link is external) (CalNet ID required), or they can contact People & Culture for tools, guidelines, and procedures.
• Orient or familiarize the new hire with various UDAR business units and the advancement community to best integrate the employee (i.e., introduce new hire to UDAR colleagues and campus key stakeholders in advancement).
• Help new hire arrange an expanded tour of the workplace or and UC Berkeley campus (post COVID). 
• Answer questions as needed and referring the new hire to the appropriate resources.