This paper reviews the literature on newcomer socialization and identifies important issues and directions for future research. In particular, it addresses issues related to socialization in the context of three dramatic trends: the increasing cultural diversity of the workforce, the changing nature of employment to more temporary relationships, and downsizing. We begin by providing a brief synopsis of Fisher's review of the socialization literature. We then discuss the progress that has been made in the subsequent decade, and provide a thorough review of the empirical research literature over the course of that time. We conclude with a demonstration of how scholars can better understand socialization by considering it in the context of each of the trends we have identified. We offer several testable propositions to stimulate and guide research, along with a discussion of methodological issues that we believe could help generate a broader understanding of the socialization process.