New Employees

Before You Report

Welcome to the “People’s Department”. We are pleased to have you join us in our proud tradition of public service to our fellow Americans.

During your first week at USDA, you will be busy learning about the organization, getting your pay and benefits arranged and finding out about your workplace. We want to help you hit the ground running and start your employment as smoothly as possible, so we have organized this page to help answer questions and get you started before your first day. Please follow this page from beginning to end and be sure to note the items that must be done before you start working.

Your Supervisor

Your new supervisor will contact you by phone or e-mail at least one week before your start date. He or she will welcome you and answer any questions you may have. If you do not know who your supervisor is or have not heard from one, simply contact your Human Resource Specialist.

Your Sponsor

To help you with your transition, we have assigned you a sponsor. Your sponsor is a coworker who is not in your chain of command, assigned to you to help you learn the ropes. Once you start, your sponsor will give you a tour, help you become acclimated to USDA culture and answer your questions. We encourage you to reach out to your sponsor any time you have any concerns or questions. Your sponsor is there to help you.

New Supervisors

If you are a new supervisor, welcome! Follow the rest of this page for the regular onboarding procedures.

Before You Report To USDA

Before your first day, you will need to complete three training courses that take about two hours to finish. Each can be completed separately, so you don’t have to it all at once. Just be sure to complete them all before your start date.

To begin your training click the button below: