New Hire Onboarding Icebreaker App
Help new hires build their network in the first week, not the first year.
Why Onboarding Needs an Icebreaker
New hires who have friends and contacts at work settle in faster and are more likely to stay. But onboarding is often packed with training and paperwork, and new employees only meet their manager and immediate team. An onboarding icebreaker gives new hires real conversations with each other and with coworkers across the company.
Jam Bingo sends each person prompts like 'Find someone who joined a different team this week and ask what they'll be working on.' After each conversation, they scan each other's QR codes to unlock the next prompt. Invite a few existing employees as buddies, and new hires meet people across the company on day one.
How?
Jam Bingo is the simplest networking game that gets everyone talking and learning more about each other.
1. during the networking session
Introduce Jam Bingo to get attendees started.
2. Attendees scan to participate
Guests open their phone camera and scan the QR Code.
3. A conversation starter To Connect
Each guest receives a tailored conversation starter.
4. The Exchange: Get People Talking
After chatting, scan the other person's QR Code to mark the connection and unlock your next prompt.
How to Use the Onboarding Icebreaker at Your Event
The onboarding icebreaker helps the people at your event meet new people, not just the people they came with. Here’s how to use it:
- 01Step 1
Decide How Many New People Each Person Meets
Create a Jam Bingo for your event and choose how many different people you'd like each person to talk with. That's the job of the Onboarding Icebreaker: getting people past the group they came with and into conversations with people they haven't met yet.
TipNot sure? Start with 5 people each - enough to get everyone past the group they came with. - 02Step 2
Add Conversation Prompts
Pick a ready-made template or write your own prompts. Each prompt gives people a reason to find someone new and a question to start the conversation.
TipKeep prompts about people, not trivia - "Find someone who…" sends people across the room to someone new. - 03Step 3
Display Your Jam Bingo QR Code
Put your Jam Bingo QR code on the big screen, at check-in, or on table cards. People scan it with their phone camera to join - no app to download.
TipExplain it once, in one line: scan, find someone who fits your prompt, talk, then scan each other's QR code. - 04Step 4
Let People Meet New People
Each person gets a conversation prompt, finds someone who fits it, and talks with them. Then they scan that person's QR code to get their next prompt and meet someone else.
TipGive it 20 to 45 minutes during a reception, break, or networking session. - 05Step 5
Everyone Leaves With Their Connections
Every connection is saved, so each person gets a list of the people they met - with the contact info they shared and the conversations they had.
TipRecognize the people who met the most new people at the end - it's an easy way to wrap up.
Ready to Use the Onboarding Icebreaker at Your Event?
Create a Jam Bingo, add your own prompts, and get a QR code for your event. You’ll be directed to the Create Account page first.
Have questions? Book a 15-minute demo.
Where to Use Onboarding Icebreaker
New Hire Orientation
Give every new hire several real conversations on their first day.
- New hires meet each other
- Less awkward than group intros
- Reusable for every cohort
Graduate & Intern Programs
Help interns and graduate hires build a network across the company.
- Connects cohorts across offices
- Fun for early-career hires
- Contact sharing built in
Buddy & Mentor Kickoffs
Kick off a buddy or mentor program with conversations between pairs and beyond.
- Easy first conversation
- Mixes mentors and mentees
- Quick to set up
Onboarding Icebreaker vs. Two Truths and a Lie
| Feature | Two Truths and a Lie | Onboarding Icebreaker |
|---|---|---|
| Format | One person speaks, everyone listens | Everyone talks one-on-one at once |
| Time with 30+ new hires | Too long | 20–30 minutes total |
| People each new hire meets | Hears names, rarely talks | Several real conversations |
| Comfort for introverts | Speaking in front of the group | One small conversation at a time |
| Keeping in touch | Not built in | New hires can share contact info |
Example Prompts for Onboarding Icebreaker
Taken from the New Hire Onboarding template. Use them as a starting point, then adapt them to your group.
Make people move
Start prompts with "Find someone who…" so each one sends players across the room to a new person, not back to their own table.
Mix easy and deeper prompts
Open with quick, observable prompts (something they're wearing, where they're from), then add a few that lead to a real story.
Keep them inclusive
Avoid prompts about money, looks, or anything someone could feel left out of. Everyone should be able to answer at least half of them.
Match the length of your event
Around 12–16 prompts fits a 30-minute game. More prompts than time just leaves people unfinished.
- 1
Find someone who joined a different team this week and ask them what they'll be working on
- 2
Find someone who has been at the company for more than three years and ask them for their best piece of advice
- 3
Find someone who moved to a new city for this job and ask them what they've discovered so far
- 4
Find someone who worked in a completely different industry before and ask them what they miss about it
- 5
Find someone who has the same start date as you and ask them what they're most excited to learn
- 6
Find a buddy or mentor in the room and ask them what they wish they had known in their first month
- 7
Find someone who will work in a different office or location and ask them what their team is like
- 8
Find someone who has a favorite productivity tip and ask them to teach it to you
- 9
Find someone who has a fun fact nobody at work knows yet and ask them to share it
- 10
Find someone who has already found a great lunch spot nearby and ask them for a recommendation
- 11
Find someone whose role you don't fully understand and ask them to explain it in one sentence
- 12
Find someone who has a hobby outside of work and ask them how they got into it
See all 15 prompts in the New Hire Onboarding template · Browse all templates
Other Platforms Like Jam Bingo
Jam Bingo is designed to help people actually get to know each other, not just exchange names. Unlike icebreaker games that focus on quick interactions or surface-level fun, Jam Bingo is built around meaningful conversations that make it easier for people to open up, find common ground, and build real relationships.
| Features | Jam Bingo | Hoogo | SocialPoint.io | Booth Bingo | Eventgamification.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paperless (QR Code Digital) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Branding | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Conversation Prompt | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Meaningful & Intentional Connections | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Contact Sharing (Email, Instagram, Linkedin, etc) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Connect with people who aren't playing (scan their LinkedIn QR code, or enter their name + email or phone) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Each person gets a list of everyone they connected with, including contact information and conversations they had. | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Introduction Forum | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Auto Introductions ("Introduce Me") | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good icebreaker for new hire orientation?
One where every new hire has real one-on-one conversations instead of taking turns in front of the group. Jam Bingo sends prompts to new hires' phones and each conversation unlocks the next prompt.
How do you help new hires build relationships?
Give them structured reasons to meet people early — other new hires, buddies, and people from other teams. An icebreaker during orientation gives each new hire several conversations on day one.
Can we reuse it for every cohort?
Yes. Save your prompts and run the same game for each new group of hires.
Do new hires need to download an app?
No. They scan a QR code with their phone camera and join with just their name.
Does it work for small cohorts?
Yes. It works for any group size. For very small cohorts, invite a few existing employees so there are more people to meet.
The Simple Way to Get People Talking
Jam Bingo gets people having meaningful conversations and meeting as many new people as possible.
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