Did you know that two out of five people who switched jobs in the past year are already looking for a new position? Onboarding employees the correct way plays a big part in retention.
If you’re tired of constant new hire paperwork and constant turnover, you need to take a look at your employee onboarding and see if it could be contributing.
New hires have a lot to absorb when they start a new job. Keep reading to learn how to help your new hires acclimate as you welcome them to your company.
Preparing for New Hires
Employers are responsible for getting new hires up to speed as quickly as possible. The more prepared both parties are, the faster this process will go.
New hires should be properly trained, and you should provide a primer on your office culture. If you’re not sure what you should cover, the following tips can help you prepare for your new hires.
Create an Onboarding Plan
You’ve probably heard that it’s important to have a plan, but it’s even more important to be prepared for your new hires. Consider every step of their onboarding process and make a plan to ensure that everyone is prepared.
You can even integrate your new hires into the onboarding plan from the beginning, so they understand how they’ll be part of the process. Also, consider their individual needs, so you can make your onboarding plan as effective as possible.
Send Out Training Materials
Even if you have a robust onboarding plan, new hires will still need training. Send them any training materials you have and allow them to get familiar with the essential parts of their new role. You should also make sure that they understand your onboarding plan so they know what they need to do.
Include Orientation Materials
Orientation materials are a great way to introduce your new hires to your company. For example, you can send out a packet of information, which new hires can read throughout the week to get a feel for their new workplace. You should also include any contracts or paperwork, as well as information on your benefits package, so they know what’s available to them.
Expose Your New Hires to Your Culture
It’s important for employers to expose new hires to their company culture. This will give new employees the best possible opportunity to succeed because they’ll understand what’s important to the company.
When you send new employees off for training or meetings, make sure that you expose them to new ideas and concepts. For example, if you have regular meetings with managers, be sure to include your new hires so they can get a feel for how the company operates.
Create a Welcome Kit
Creating a welcome kit for your new hires can help them feel included and valued. Try to create a kit that’s reflective of your business, but don’t hesitate to tailor it to your new employee. The welcome kit should include key information about the business, so your new hires feel a part of your company.
Items to Include in a New Hire Welcome Kit
You can include the following items in your new hire welcome kits:
- Company guidebooks, ebooks, or handbooks
- Frequently used software or apps
- A welcome letter
- A map to key locations
- A schedule of company events
- A calendar of upcoming events
- A list of motivational phrases
- An information card
- A phone or tablet charger
- A notebook
- A folder to use as a desk organizer
- A USB drive, flash drive, or card reader
- A keychain
- A card for the employee to pass on to others on their team
- Company swag or stickers
- Company pictures and mascots
- Company history, including pictures from the company founders and historical figures
Each item you choose should be simple, easy to carry, and reflective of your company culture. For example, you might want to include a quote or a saying that the new hire can use as a source of motivation. You might also include a small gift that represents your company, such as a keychain or mug.
Tips for a Successful Onboarding Process
The kind of onboarding program that a company needs depends on a wide variety of factors. For example, a new employee at a major corporation will have to go through a far different onboarding process than a new employee at a small business.
However, no matter the size of your company, there are some basic tips that can help you set up a successful onboarding program.
Get the Paperwork Done Before Day One
The first day of work is a very busy day for a lot of companies. This means that a lot of paperwork is going to be done, which can be a lot to take in for new hires.
Because of this, you should get the paperwork done before the first day the employee starts. You should also carefully review the paperwork with a new employees, so they understand what it means and can ask questions if they need to.
Be Upfront With Your Expectations at the Start
Onboarding new hires is, above all else, a way to welcome new employees to your company and make them feel comfortable. However, it’s just as important to set up realistic expectations.
Whether you’re a large corporation, small business, or anything else, the more realistic you are with your new employees, the easier it is for them to become a part of your company.
Make Your New Hires Feel as Comfortable as Possible
One of the best ways to make new hires feel as comfortable as possible is to make sure that they feel as if they’re a part of your team. You should provide training and learning opportunities that allow the new hires to feel as if they’re contributing to your company. If they feel as if they’re contributing to the company, they’ll feel less stressed.
Make the Onboarding Process a Two-Way Street
Too often, onboarding programs and tasks are designed around the needs of the company instead of the needs of the new hires. This can cause new hires to feel as if the company is not interested in them as a person, which can lead to them feeling as if they have no say in the onboarding process.
By making the onboarding process a two-way street, you can help new hires feel more comfortable and more a part of your company.
Be Ready to Answer Questions
One of the most important things that you can do is be ready to answer any questions that you can. This means making sure that your supervisors and managers are prepared for the basic questions regarding benefits, salary, and other information that new hires will want to know.
While it’s important that you have everything taken care of in advance, it can be hard to anticipate everything. By simply being ready to answer any questions that your new hires have, you can help them immediately feel as if they have a place in your company.
Establish a Review Process
Onboarding doesn’t stop after the first day. In fact, onboarding should take anywhere from three months to a year.
That’s why it’s important to have a review process in place, especially if you have a lot of new hires coming in at once. A review process can help clearly define roles and responsibilities.
It also gives your new hires benchmarks and ensures that they know your expectations. It also helps you see where there are gaps in your onboarding process.
Think About the Future
When you’re preparing for new hires, it can be easy to get caught up in the moment. However, you need to remember that a new hire is only your new hire for a limited time.
Think about what you can do to make the new hire feel as comfortable as possible and how you can prepare them for the future. By thinking about the future, you can give the new hire a better idea of what to expect as well as set them up for success.
The First Day
On the first day, it’s a good idea to give new hires a tour of your facility. Encourage them to ask questions and get to know everyone they meet. Also, make sure that they know where everything is, so they can get settled.
Talk About Your Culture
The culture of your company is important for new employees, so you should make sure that they understand the importance of your organization’s values and ethics. If you have a code of conduct, be sure to show it to them.
Introduce Them to Their Coworkers
On the first day, it’s a good idea to introduce new employees to their coworkers so they have someone to turn to for help if they need it. Make sure that you encourage your coworkers to be kind to your new hires and offer them assistance if necessary.
You should also ensure that new employees understand that they can be themselves and ask questions without feeling intimidated.
Give a Tour
On the first day, it’s a good idea to give new hires a tour of your facility. Encourage them to ask questions and get to know everyone they meet. Also, make sure that they know where everything is, so they can get settled.
Explain Their Role
On the first day, you should take some time to explain their role. This will show them that you’ve already put some thought into their role, so they don’t feel like their job is unimportant. Also, send them home with a clear description of their role so they can review what you’ve already told them.
Give a Training Session
On the first day, you should take some time to provide new hires with a training session. During this training, you should provide information about your company and outline the expectations that they should have when they start working.
Ask Them Questions
Since the first day is an exciting time for new employees, you should make sure that you ask them questions as well. This will help them to feel welcome in the office and also show them that you’re excited to have them in your organization.
During your conversation, you should also make sure that you ask new hires about their preferences, so you can make an effort to accommodate them.
Talk About Expectations and Benchmarks
On the first day, you should take some time to talk about expectations and benchmarks. This will help new hires to understand what you expect of them, which will also make them feel good because they’ll already be ahead of the game.
Set Up Their Desk
On the first day, you should take some time to set up new hires’ desks. You want them to feel comfortable, so you should make sure that they have everything that they need to do their job well.
Take Them Out to Lunch
On the first day, it’s a good idea to take new hires out to lunch. This is an easy way to show that you care about them and want them to feel welcome.
During lunch, you should ask them if they have any questions. Make sure that you listen carefully to what they have to say.
Welcome Your New Hires With Ease
Day one will set the tone of things with your new hires. Start your new employees off strong with a good onboarding program, and see your team and company thrive.
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