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 Does Onboarding Icebreaker Work?
Onboarding Icebreaker runs on Jam Bingo—the simple, interactive networking activity. It is not a card, it has no squares, and attendees do not fill anything out. Here’s what each attendee does:
- 1
Scan to join
Attendees scan the event’s Jam Bingo QR code (or enter the game code). It runs in the phone’s browser—nothing to download.
- 2
Get a conversation prompt
Each person receives a conversation prompt on their phone, like a question to ask someone new.
- 3
Find someone and talk
They find someone who fits the prompt, have the conversation, then scan that person’s QR code (or enter their code) to unlock the next prompt.
- 4
Repeat and connect
Every connection is saved, and the leaderboard shows who met the most new people—perfect for prizes.
Try the Jam Bingo Demo
See exactly what your attendees will experience. Scan the QR code with your phone, or use game code QW40PM.
How to Use the Onboarding Icebreaker at Your Event
Follow these steps to set up and run the onboarding icebreaker for your own event.
- 01Step 1
Write Onboarding Prompts
Mix prompts about roles and teams with personal ones. Add prompts that send new hires to buddies or leaders in the room.
TipSave the game and reuse it for every new cohort. - 02Step 2
Launch It During Orientation
Show the QR code at the welcome session, lunch, or the end-of-day social. Everyone joins with just their name.
TipInvite a few managers and buddies to join — new hires love meeting people beyond their cohort. - 03Step 3
Keep the Connections
After 20–30 minutes, everyone has a list of the people they connected with and can share contact info.
TipEncourage new hires to book a coffee with one person they met.
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) | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| 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.
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