Work template · free printable

New Employee Icebreaker Bingo

A 4×4 find-someone-who card that helps new hires meet their colleagues and lets colleagues get to know the new faces. Every prompt is about people, not company facts, so nobody feels quizzed.

  • 4×4 grid
  • 70 prompts to pick from
  • US Letter & A4
  • Host instructions included

Free, no sign-up. Every card in a batch is different. You can edit the title and prompts before you print.

New Employee Icebreaker BingoMeet someone who fits a square, chat for a minute, get a signature.NameCard 1 of 30First full row, column, or diagonal wins. One signature per person. You can't sign your own card.Has a note-takingapp they swearbyHas a favorite tipfor starting a newjobWent to a localfestival or fair thisyearCan teach you aword in anotherlanguageWas born in thesame month asyouWorked in foodservice or retailearly onHas a weekendtraditionTakes the bus ortrain to workKnows where thebest coffee is inthe buildingPicked up a newhobby in the pastyearHas the samenumber of lettersin their first nameas youGrew up speakingmore than onelanguageJoined the teamwithin the lastmonthHas a favoritequestion to asknew peoplePrefers a quickchat over a longemailHas a boardgame they love toteach
Card 1 of a sample batch, made with the generator on this site.

Who it’s for

  • Welcome lunches or coffee hours for new hires
  • Teams adding several new people in the same month
  • Orientation days that pair new starters with current staff
  • Managers who want a warm, low-key first-week activity

How to play

  1. Give each player a card and a pen. Players write their name at the top.
  2. Players talk to each other. When someone fits a square, that person signs it. Nobody signs their own card.
  3. By default each person can sign a card once and the first full row, column, or diagonal wins. In the generator you can allow two signatures or switch to “most squares in a set time.”
  4. Plan on about 15–20 minutes for a 4×4 card. That’s a suggestion; adjust it to your group.

Full rules and what to say when you start: How to play icebreaker bingo.

Tips for hosting

  • Give cards to everyone, not just the new hires; the point is that long-time staff walk over and introduce themselves too.
  • Before you start, ask each new person to say their name and team in one sentence so others know who to look for.
  • Several prompts compare players (same birth month, same music taste), so encourage people to ask a follow-up question rather than just collecting a yes.
  • Keep it short and skip prizes that single anyone out; a shared treat for the whole room works better in someone's first week.

Prompts on the sample card

These are the 16 prompts on card 1 above. Other cards use a different mix from the full list.

  • Has a note-taking app they swear by
  • Has a favorite tip for starting a new job
  • Went to a local festival or fair this year
  • Can teach you a word in another language
  • Was born in the same month as you
  • Worked in food service or retail early on
  • Has a weekend tradition
  • Takes the bus or train to work
  • Knows where the best coffee is in the building
  • Picked up a new hobby in the past year
  • Has the same number of letters in their first name as you
  • Grew up speaking more than one language
  • Joined the team within the last month
  • Has a favorite question to ask new people
  • Prefers a quick chat over a long email
  • Has a board game they love to teach
See all 70 prompts in this template
  1. Joined the team within the last month
  2. Still remembers what they wore on their first day here
  3. Can recommend a good lunch place nearby
  4. Moved to this area within the past two years
  5. Has a commute under 15 minutes
  6. Takes the bus or train to work
  7. Has a favorite tip for starting a new job
  8. Had a first job they still talk about
  9. Used to work in a completely different field
  10. Knows a nice route for a short walk nearby
  11. Has a pet they'd love to show you photos of
  12. Picked up a new hobby in the past year
  13. Can teach you a word in another language
  14. Has a podcast they'd recommend
  15. Is taking a class outside of work
  16. Has the same favorite snack as you
  17. Was born in the same month as you
  18. Has the same number of letters in their first name as you
  19. Likes the same kind of music as you
  20. Grew up speaking more than one language
  21. Has a nickname with a good story behind it
  22. Has worked both remotely and in an office
  23. Prefers a quick chat over a long email
  24. Plans out their week on Monday morning
  25. Takes meeting notes by hand
  26. Has a favorite way to unwind after work
  27. Cooks dinner most nights
  28. Has volunteered at a local event
  29. Enjoys reading fiction
  30. Has a weekend tradition
  31. Went to a local festival or fair this year
  32. Can tell a joke in under ten seconds
  33. Worked in food service or retail early on
  34. Enjoys trivia nights
  35. Has a favorite local park
  36. Has a go-to comfort meal
  37. Has a hobby most coworkers don't know about
  38. Has kept a houseplant alive for years
  39. Feels sharpest in the morning
  40. Has helped a new teammate find their way around
  41. Has a funny story from their first week at any job
  42. Grew up in a different time zone from here
  43. Knows where the best coffee is in the building
  44. Brought something to decorate their desk
  45. Has a favorite meeting room
  46. Can name three people on another team
  47. Has given someone an office tour
  48. Learned a new tool in their first month here
  49. Kept a name badge from an old job
  50. Has a fun fact they share when introduced
  51. Shares your favorite season
  52. Had a summer job outdoors
  53. Has lived in the same city as you
  54. Has seen a movie in a theater this month
  55. Has a trick for remembering names
  56. Would rather send a message than call
  57. Has a note-taking app they swear by
  58. Has a long reading list
  59. Has a favorite weekend spot nearby
  60. Knows the quietest spot in the building
  61. Has a hobby they picked up as a kid
  62. Played a team sport growing up
  63. Has a desk item with a story behind it
  64. Knows a good hiking trail around here
  65. Has a board game they love to teach
  66. Starts each day with a to-do list
  67. Has been a buddy to a new hire
  68. Does their best thinking in the afternoon
  69. Knows a shortcut through the building
  70. Has a favorite question to ask new people

Printing

  • Add each new hire's name to the card title (for example, "Welcome, Jordan!") before printing so the cards feel made for the day.
  • Print a few extra cards for people who drop in late from meetings.
  • Print at 100% (“Actual size”). More detail in How to print bingo cards on US Letter or A4.

Questions

Will new hires feel tested by this?

They shouldn't. None of the prompts ask about the company, its products, or how things work here. Every square is about a person's interests, habits, or background, so a new hire can answer them as easily as anyone else.

What if we only have one or two new people joining?

It still works, because everyone in the room plays and signs each other's cards. With a small group, choose a 3×3 grid or the "Most squares in a set time" finish so nobody runs out of people to ask.

Can I use it for interns or a seasonal cohort?

Yes. Edit a few prompts to fit the group, such as swapping a commute prompt for one about where they're studying, and generate a fresh batch.