New hire: day one

Step One

Sign in to the laptop

Use the temporary password from HR or IT

You will be prompted to set a new one immediately. Use a long passphrase you can remember — this is the one password the laptop itself needs.

You will be asked to set up MFA

Install Microsoft Authenticator, Duo Mobile, or Okta Verify on your phone (whichever your firm uses) and follow the QR code prompt. Save the recovery codes the website offers — print them or store them somewhere safe.

Let the computer finish first-time setup

Windows or macOS will pull policies, install management agents, and stage apps in the background. Plug in to power and ethernet if possible and let it run for 15–30 minutes before pushing on it.

Step Two

Open the apps you'll use every day

Outlook

Open Outlook and let your mailbox sync. Confirm your email signature, time zone, and that you can see your shared mailboxes if you have any.

Teams (or Slack, or Webex)

Sign in, set a profile photo, join the channels your team or HR pointed you to, and check that audio and video work in Settings > Devices.

OneDrive, SharePoint, Box, or Dropbox

Sign in to whichever your firm uses and let it start syncing. Bookmark the team site or shared folder you'll work out of.

Browser sign-in

Open Edge or Chrome and sign in with your work account so bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords sync. Create a separate "Personal" profile and keep them apart.

Step Three

The "I should ask about this" list

Where do team files live?

SharePoint site, Box folder, Dropbox folder, network share, project management tool — ask your manager or buddy on day one. The wrong place is a common cause of duplicated work.

VPN: when do I actually need it?

Most cloud apps don't. A few internal apps and shared drives do. Ask which apps require VPN so you don't connect when you don't have to.

What software do I need that isn't installed?

Some firms preload everything; others install on request. Make a list as you discover gaps and submit one IT request rather than ten.

Printers

If you're in an office, ask which printer is the default and how to install it. If remote, you may not need any.

Who do I contact for IT help?

Email, ticket portal, chat — firms vary. Save the contact in your phone before you need it.

Day Two and Beyond

Small things that pay off later

Set up MFA backups

Add a second method (text, secondary device, or recovery codes) so a lost phone doesn't lock you out.

Install your phone apps now, not later

Outlook, Teams, Authenticator on your phone before the first time you need them away from your desk.

Check your calendar settings

Time zone, working hours, and meeting defaults. Wrong time zone is the #1 reason new hires miss meetings.

Save IT and HR contacts in your phone

Service desk number, your manager, your HR contact, building security if applicable. Easier to do today than at 8 AM Monday when something is wrong.