Onboarding at Elastic: What to expect

Your first few weeks will be filled with meeting other Elasticians virtually. This will likely include your direct team members as well as colleagues across the organization.

Shelby Khan, brand strategy director at Elastic, says, “To meet people, you put time on their calendars. It’s the equivalent of walking through the office.” Because Elastic is distributed, people are used to it. “Everyone was nice and helpful when I reached out,” she says.

Starting these conversations early in your time at Elastic helps you build the relationships you’ll need for collaboration later on.

Elastic’s formal, virtual onboarding experience is designed to give every new hire a warm welcome and a solid foundation from day one. Central to our onboarding experience is X-School, a comprehensive program designed to equip new employees with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive at Elastic. Conducted in two different time zones to accommodate our global workforce, X-School provides a platform for new hires to connect with Elasticians worldwide.

“Being inclusive to all time zones is something we're really proud of,” says Jess Bargeloh, learning and organizational development solutions consultant at Elastic. “There are a lot of breakout groups,” Bargeloh says. “Elasticians have a chance to meet and learn with people in other countries.”

Through engaging sessions and interactive activities, participants not only gain valuable insights into Elastic's culture but also build lasting relationships with their peers. “Every aspect of X-School is designed to foster personal and professional growth. X-School teaches you how to be successful at Elastic,” she says.

The program is three days of classroom virtual experience with breakout sessions and group work. The fourth day is reserved for a panel with senior leadership. But before their X-School cohort kicks off, new hires are asked to complete some prework before attending their first session, like learning courses or self-study.

“Once they get to the virtual sessions, they can have a dialogue about and apply what they learned instead of hearing it for the first time,” Bargeloh says.

Included in X-School programming is information about Elastic's products, solutions, history, and Source Code. We introduce a number of different topics that help Elasticians achieve shared success, including storytelling, growth mindset, collaboration, and decision making.

“X-School is a mixture of understanding company culture in a remote environment and getting familiar with the company,” Khan says.

To cap off the week, there is an AMA (Ask Me Anything) with Elastic senior leadership, which has always been a fan favorite, Bargeloh says. X-School runs every four to six weeks, depending on the number of new hires.

Ilya Nikokoshev, senior software engineer at Elastic, says he had a great X-School experience. “This is easily the best onboarding program that I have experienced, and I will be sure to mention it as one of the things that make Elastic a great place to work,” he says.

To get the most of our X-School, Bargeloh recommends:

• Preparing: Fully immerse yourself in the X-School experience by completing your prework and actively participating in virtual sessions. This dedicated time is invaluable for laying a strong foundation in your role at Elastic.

• Connecting: Embrace the chance to connect with other Elasticians worldwide during X-School. These relationships are not only valuable professionally but can also provide support as you begin to acclimate.

• Being open: While starting a new job may present challenges, it's also an exciting opportunity for personal and professional growth. Approach this journey with enthusiasm and openness to new experiences; it's a chance to learn, grow, and have fun along the way.

You’re one job application away from your X-School journey. Learn more about careers at Elastic and search open roles. 

This blog was originally published on May 7, 2024.