How to Design a New Hire Training Program: Best Tools and Platforms

Building an effective training program for new hires is essential for their success and your organization’s growth. The challenge? Choosing the right tools and resources to meet your needs. With countless platforms and technologies available, narrowing your options can feel overwhelming. But by identifying your specific goals, you can create a program that equips new hires with the skills and knowledge to thrive.

This guide will walk you through the steps to evaluate pre-built training platforms, custom content creation tools, and learning management systems (LMS), complete with practical charts and actionable insights.

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New hire training isn’t one-size-fits-all. To select the right tools, you need to identify the types of training your employees require.

1. Compliance Training: Covers essential laws, regulations, and workplace policies to reduce risk and ensure ethical operations.
2. Role-Specific Skills: Focuses on technical and soft skills tailored to an employee’s job responsibilities.
3. Product or Service Knowledge: Equips employees with an understanding of your offerings, enabling them to represent your brand effectively.
4. Cultural Orientation: Introduces new hires to your values, mission, and workplace expectations, fostering alignment.
5. Soft Skills Development: Helps build communication, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities.
6. Technology Training: Familiarizes employees with the tools and systems they’ll use daily.

By identifying your organization’s specific needs, you can determine whether pre-built courses, custom materials, or a mix of both will be most effective.

Pre-built platforms offer quick, scalable training solutions for common needs. Here’s a chart of top platforms and their strengths:

Tool Type	Platforms	Best For	Key Features
General Training	Coursera LinkedIn Learning Udemy	Professional development and skill-building	Wide range of topics; Certifications; Flexible learning paths.
Compliance Training	360training EasyLlama SafetySkills Compliancy Group (healthcare)	Regulatory and safety compliance	Self-paced courses; Industry-specific content; Certification upon completion.
Soft Skills & Leadership Development	Skillsoft Mind Tools BetterUp	Leadership, communication, and collaboration	Expert-led content; Interactive modules; Progress tracking.
Technical Skills	Pluralsight Codecademy DataCamp	IT, coding, data science, AI, and analytics training	Skill assessments; Personalized learning paths; In-demand tech skills focus.
Inclusive Workplaces	Paradigm IQ Udemy for Business LinkedIn Learning	Building inclusive workplace environments	Unconscious bias training; Cultural awareness modules; Expert-developed content.

Pre-built courses are ready-made and designed to address common training topics. They are ideal when:

• You need standardized training for compliance, professional skills, or foundational topics.
• Speed is a priority, and you want to deploy resources immediately.
• Your budget is limited, as pre-built platforms are typically cost-effective.
• Expertise matters, with industry leaders designing the content.

For tailored solutions, custom content tools provide flexibility and control over training design. Here’s a breakdown of tools that help you build courses from scratch:

Tool Type	Platforms	Best For	Key Features
Course Builders	Rise.com Articulate 360 360 Learning	Building interactive learning paths	Customizable templates; Mobile-friendly design; Assessment creation tools.
Screen Recording	Loom ScreenPal	Documenting processes and creating tutorials	Screen recording; Video editing
Video Creation	Synthesia Powtoon HourOne	Personalized and dynamic content creation	Text-to-video AI; Animations; Explainer videos; Virtual avatars
Document Creation	Scribe Microsoft Office Google Docs	Developing written guides and procedures	Step-by-step instructions; Collaboration features; Templates for consistency.
Visual Design	Canva Draw.io Miro	Creating infographics and flowcharts	Real-time collaboration; Brand customization; Pre-designed templates.
Gamification and Microlearning	Safety Culture Training Gamelearn	Enhancing engagement through interactive learning	Editable courses; Gamified modules; Rewards systems; Leaderboards and progress tracking.

Custom training materials provide tailored content specific to your organization. These are best for:

• Unique processes or proprietary tools that generic courses won’t cover.
• Cultural alignment, ensuring that training reflects your organization’s values and mission.
• Advanced or niche skills required by your industry or team.
• Scalable content that can be updated and reused over time.

The best training programs often use a blend of pre-built and custom tools. To decide what’s right for your organization:

1. Pre-Built Tools: Perfect for general compliance training, professional development, and broad skill-building.
2. Custom Tools: Essential for company-specific workflows, proprietary tools, or highly specialized skills.
3. Combine Both: Use pre-built platforms for foundational topics and custom tools to reflect your company’s culture and unique processes.

An LMS helps you manage, deliver, and track training effectively. Whether you’re using pre-built courses or custom materials, an LMS ensures organization and scalability.

LMS Platform	URL	Best For	Key Features
TalentLMS	talentlms.com	Small to medium-sized businesses looking for an easy-to-use LMS	Pre-built course library; Custom course creation; Gamification; Reporting tools.
Docebo	docebo.com	AI-driven personalized learning paths	AI-powered content recommendations; Compliance tracking; Robust analytics.
Litmos	litmos.com	Enterprises needing integrated training and tracking	Pre-built and custom course compatibility; Automation; Integration with CRM and ERP tools.
Cornerstone OnDemand	cornerstoneondemand.com	Large organizations with diverse training needs	Compliance and certification tracking; Customizable dashboards; Integration with HR systems.
Absorb LMS	absorblms.com	Scalable training for growing businesses	Flexible course creation; Pre-built course marketplace; Advanced reporting tools.
LearnUpon	learnupon.com	Businesses needing centralized employee training management	Multi-tenant portal for different teams; SCORM compliance; Easy-to-use interface.
Moodle	moodle.org	Open-source LMS for highly customized solutions	Flexible and free; Customizable plugins and themes; Collaboration tools.
TalentCards	talentcards.com	Mobile-first microlearning for deskless workers	Mobile-friendly design; Gamified learning cards; Instant feedback.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right tools for new hire training depends on your organization’s needs, scale, and budget. Pre-built platforms offer quick solutions for general training, while custom content tools provide flexibility for unique requirements. Combine these with an LMS for streamlined management and tracking. By strategically blending these resources, you can create a robust, scalable, and engaging training program that supports new hires from day one.