Welcome to Abode Recruit! This article walks through what to expect as you get up and running, from your first call with your CSM to launching your first page or event.
Onboarding has three main steps — a Strategy Session, one or more Working Sessions, and a Go-Live check — plus an optional add-on for teams with event staff or campus ambassadors. Here's what happens at each stage.
Step 1: Strategy Session (30 minutes)
This is your kickoff call with your CSM. It's a conversation, not a building session — you won't need to open the tool yet.
During this call, you'll:
Align on your overall goals for Recruit — what you're hoping to accomplish this season, and what you'll want to show leadership by the end of it
Consult with your CSM on the best page or event setup for your program
Talk through expected outcomes and a timeline for launch
Your CSM may also share examples from other companies to help you think through what's possible.
Before this call: it's helpful (though not required) to have a sense of your logo, a banner image, and a few photos on hand — your CSM will let you know if there's anything specific to prepare based on what you're building.
Step 2: Working Sessions (as many as you need)
Once your strategy is set, you'll move into hands-on building time with your CSM. This is where your pages and events actually come together.
Schedule one working session or several — there's no fixed number. Some programs are ready to go after a single session; others take a few passes to get everything in place.
Each session picks up right where the last one left off, so you can build at whatever pace works for your team.
Your CSM will also help you set up your confirmation emails, invite emails, and (if you're using it) the notes feature for capturing candidate evaluations.
Optional: Event Team Onboarding
If you have campus ambassadors or event-day staff who'll use Abode without building anything themselves, your CSM can set up a short, separate training just for them — a quick walkthrough of using Abode day-of. This is entirely optional and scoped to what your team needs.
Step 3: Go-Live
Right before your first event or the moment your page goes live, your CSM will do one final walkthrough with you to confirm:
Your page or event looks right and is ready for traffic
Confirmation, invite, and reminder emails are customized and working as expected
Tracking links (if you're using them) are finalized — note that tracking link slugs lock once created, so double-check these before you publish
Once everything checks out, you're live!
Quick Reference: Pages vs. Events vs. Tracking Links
A common question during onboarding is when to use each of these. Here's the short version:
Tool | Use it when... |
Tracking Link | You just need to know where your traffic came from — no RSVP required. Great for career fairs, business cards, or print materials. |
Event | You need an RSVP ahead of time, like for an info session or on-campus event. |
Page | You want a long-term, always-on presence for your employer brand. If you already have a strong career site, you may only need events. |
You don't need a page in order to run events — each of these can serve a different purpose for your program, and it's common to use more than one in parallel.
A Few Tips Along the Way
Images are often the trickiest part of building a page. If you're using Canva, you can copy an image directly (Copy to Clipboard) and paste it right into Abode — no need to download and re-upload.
Watch your "safe zone." This is the part of a banner image that stays visible across desktop, tablet, and mobile. Keep anything important (logos, faces) inside that zone so it isn't cropped on smaller screens.
Most teams already have usable assets — photos from your website, LinkedIn posts, or existing marketing materials work great as a starting point.
Questions?
Your CSM is your main point of contact throughout onboarding and beyond — don't hesitate to reach out anytime with questions.