Welcoming new members, providing orientation and building connections: With the Buddy Program, the PMI Germany Chapter is piloting a personal onboarding approach that brings experienced and new members together.

Have you been a member of the PMI Germany Chapter for more than two years? Then this article is especially for you: Our Buddy Program has entered its pilot phase – and is already showing how valuable personal support can be for new members.

Anyone arriving somewhere new – at an employer, in a new role or in an association – needs orientation. Without it, many things become unnecessarily difficult: structures, contacts and processes first have to be found, understood and put into context. This is exactly where our Buddy Program comes in.

As an experienced member, you support a new member during the initial phase, explain the value of membership, open up networking opportunities and provide a connection to the local community. This creates orientation, integration and trust. New members feel welcome, taken seriously and not left on their own – an important factor in helping them remain connected to the Chapter in the long term.

Our pilot started in May/June. With former President Dr. Andreas Berning and Ringo Thiel, we were able to recruit two experienced Buddies. After a brief introduction using guidance material and a learning video, the program got underway: Participants were selected from two consecutive waves of new members and invited to join the Buddy Program (see PMI Germany Chapter e.V. – Das Buddy-Konzept im PMI Germany Chapter). The interested new members were assigned to Andreas and Ringo. The two are now supporting 10 new members and helping them get to know the Chapter better.

The Buddy concept thrives on members who are willing to share knowledge, provide orientation and support others as they arrive – and on new members who are open to this special community.

Become a Buddy now - the official program starts in September!

Become part of this network and actively help shape the onboarding experience for new members. Especially now, as we expect to welcome many new members through the New Membership Model, strong onboarding from the very beginning is particularly important.

If you are interested, please start by completing this survey:

Survey on the Buddy System – complete the form

Apply via the PMI platform

If you have been a Chapter member for at least two years, speak fluent German and are willing to support a new member for two months, you can also apply directly.

Applications are submitted via PMI’s Volunteering Engagement Platform: https://volunteer.pmi.org/opportunities/65751