Onboarding is an exciting yet scary time in your new employees’ lives. They want to do well and make you happy, but they are generally lost, confused, and more than a little anxious. If you’re like many employers, you want to make them as comfortable as possible while also ensuring that they learn what they need to know, but you may not know how best to accomplish those goals. Here are some tips for improving your employee onboarding process.
Formalize the Process
Create a step by step plan that addresses the first few days of new employees’ schedules. Divide their time between tasks that must be accomplished, such as filling out paperwork, and activities that help them feel like part of the team. Even simple things like showing them where the restrooms are and explaining how to use the internal phone system will help new hires get their feet under them. Yet these things are easily overlooked when there is no formal onboarding plan.
Understand New Hire Needs
To create your onboarding plan, you must understand the basic needs of a new hire. Regardless of position, all new hires need to know:
- Rules and policies
- Specifics of job requirements and reporting structure
- Company culture and what to expect from leadership
- Who they work with and where to go with questions or problems
Prepare Early
You wouldn’t teach a class without being prepared, so why would you onboard a new hire with no preparation? As soon as you know someone’s start date, begin coordinating with everyone who will be involved with the onboarding effort. Put a nameplate on the employee’s desk, make sure all needed equipment and supplies are available, prepare all needed forms, and let the entire team know when the new hire will arrive.
Make a Great First Impression
Day One at a new job is a pivotal moment in anyone’s life, so give your new hire the best day possible. Show her to her workstation and start making introductions right away. Add her to the office lunch order. Give her a tour of the office. Designate a mentor who works as close to her station as possible and can answer basic questions throughout the day.
Also, help your new hire feel valuable right away. Tell her about the big projects she’ll be working on and how they fit into the company’s overall goals. Challenge her to meet goal deadlines for the first day, week, and month of employment.
Of course, one day isn’t enough to fully onboard a new employee. Your formal onboarding plan should cover the first week or even month of employment, depending on the specifics of the position. Even after the formal process is completed, though, continue to look out for your new employees. Make it easy for them to provide feedback and ask questions, and look for ways to make them feel like an important part of the team.
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