Employers should never underestimate the importance of a new employee onboarding process. Not only do these processes begin to acclimate employees before their first day of work, but they can also play an integral role in the degree of success those employees experience. It sets the tone for their entire experience with the company. A positive onboarding experience can lead to higher levels of engagement and retention.
Set the Tone: Think what you would want to be told about on your first day, and how you would want to be welcomed. Create a game plan and schedule for the new hire so they aren’t flying solo not knowing what to do but aren’t overwhelmed by you expecting them to already know everything. Think about how long it took you to learn your role and remember that. Learning doesn’t happen overnight. Their first days set the tone for their entire experience with the company. A positive onboarding experience can turn an otherwise normal new hire into a long-term asset to your company.
Everyone is a Teacher: Even if the employee doesn’t directly report to you or share the same job title day-to-day experiences, having a shadow day with each department head or selected representatives helps a new hire to get to not only know more about the company, it helps them to get to know others as well.
Include the Right Information: From internal processes and cultural expectations to health and safety information, technical information, and beyond, take the time to include all essential information through the orientation process.
Be Conversational Orientation shouldn’t be a one-way street. During the process, you should ask your new hire questions and allow them to share their views or opinions where appropriate. This also helps to ensure that new hires understand their roles and responsibilities quickly, allowing them to become productive members of the team sooner.
Learning and Development: Onboarding provides opportunities for new hires to learn about the company’s products, services, systems, and processes, as well as any necessary training for their roles.
Overall, investing in a comprehensive new employee onboarding process is essential for both the success of the new hire and the long-term success of the company.
