How do I send a handwritten card to every new hire?

#Option A — from an imported start date

Best if HR exports a joiners list every week or month.

1. Import the joiners

   Import the list with the start date as a column. Because you want a one-off card rather than a yearly one, map it to a custom column rather than to Work anniversary — the column header becomes the field name, so a column called Start date becomes start_date.

2. Create a date-field rule

   Automations → New automation → A date you imported, and name the field exactly as the column was named.

   Turn recurring off, so the rule matches the full date once rather than the month and day every year. A welcome card that arrives on every anniversary of someone's first day is a different product.

3. Point the rule at the date you want it to land by

   The date in the column is the date the card should arrive by, and the card lands in the four to five days ending on it. So a rule pointed at the start date puts the card in front of them as they arrive, at whatever address the contact carries.

   If you would rather it reached them at the office in their first week, import a column holding a date a few days after the start date and point the rule at that one instead. There is no timing setting on the rule — the date on the contact is the whole control.

4. Write a message that does not need much data

   New starters have thin records. Keep the message to {{first_name}} and {{sender_name}} — anything else risks a skip.

   Welcome aboard, {{first_name}}.
   
   We're really glad you said yes. Everyone is looking
   forward to working with you — shout if you need
   anything at all in the first few weeks.
   
   {{sender_name}}

5. Run it by hand, then switch it on

   Run now and read the matches before you trust it.

   You’ll know it worked when The right joiners appear, each with an occurrence date matching their start date.

#Option B — triggered by your HRIS

Best if your HRIS, ATS or onboarding tool can call a webhook, or you already run Zapier or Make. This sends the card the moment the record appears rather than waiting for the next import.

Create an inbound hook under Integrations, give it a message template and a design, and point your tool at the URL. The full recipe, including the JSON your tool needs to send, is in sending cards from Zapier and the inbound hook reference.