Culture from the Start: Onboarding at RapDev

RapDev has grown rapidly in the past year, rising from 100 to more than 160 employees. At RapDev, we want to ensure every new hire enters the company feeling supported, prepared, and connected from day one.

From my first week, I felt the energy of the culture. Teammates reached out before I officially started, welcomed me in Slack, and invited me to join conversations and team moments that made me feel included immediately. That early sense of community shaped how I approached building a stronger onboarding experience for future RapDevians. Here's a glimpse of what that welcome looks like in practice.

Through employee listening sessions, I learned what was working well and where we could create a more consistent experience. This led to enhancements to the Onboarding Buddy Program. New hires have always had buddies, but now the program guarantees opportunities to shadow different types of customer calls and see how consulting works in practice. Buddies also introduce new teammates to tools that keep RapDev running, like Granola, Notion, Slack, and even Forkable for subsidized lunches in-office.

I also refreshed our Consulting at RapDev 101 module. This updated version introduces new hires to the four principles that guide our consulting approach. We lead with engineering first delivery that removes unnecessary layers and focuses on building and automating. We are outcome focused and committed to delivering tangible results for customers. We prioritize collaborative partnerships where we listen closely, share expertise, and teach client teams. Above all, we operate with culture driven excellence supported by lean leadership and a team known for being curious, creative, and kind. Feedback from teammates like Alta Abel, Danielle Severs, Eli Kapetanopoulous, Jay Barker, and Dan Hamilton helped shape a clear and practical guide for anyone stepping into consulting for the first time.

At the center of all of this is a simple philosophy. We aim to empower new RapDevians to be problem solvers. RapDev is a place where help is one Slack message away and where every voice is valued. Even junior team members are trusted with meaningful work early in their journey.

Culture is a core part of who we are. Every candidate completes a dedicated hour long culture interview focused on curiosity, creativity, a willingness to pitch in on any task, and a strong team lift mindset. Those qualities show up across the company. Whether during our Summer and Winter Week gatherings in Boston or in fully searchable Slack channels that promote transparency, people feel supported and encouraged to bring their best selves. That support extends beyond the workplace. When one teammate shared that she had been preparing for a dance performance, more than ten RapDevians bought tickets to cheer her on. Moments like that show the depth of the community we have built. That's the kind of team RapDev is.

Onboarding is often the first true glimpse of that community. By continuing to evolve our programs, we hope every new hire’s introduction to RapDev feels warm, clear, energizing, and full of awesome RapDev swag. For anyone who wants to join a fast moving and supportive consulting team, RapDev is a place where you can grow quickly and contribute meaningfully from the start. Check out our careers page to learn more and see our open roles!