According to research, nearly one-third of new hires will leave their job within the first six months. The high turnover rate can be costly for businesses.
Onboarding new employees is one of the most important and often challenging tasks a manager or HR professional faces.
It’s critical to get new hires up to speed quickly and effectively so they can be productive members of the team. Even more importantly, it’s essential to get it right, and ensure that the new hire feels welcomed, informed, and ready to take on their new role. This is where onboarding comes in.
When onboarding a new employee, there are many things to consider, from setting expectations and orienting them to company culture to giving them the tools they need to do their job. However, there are also some things you should ultimately avoid during the onboarding process.
So, what are the dos and don’ts anyway? This blog post offers a comprehensive guide on all the dos and don’ts of onboarding new employees. Let’s get started.
The Dos of the Onboarding Process
There are a few key things you should do when onboarding a new employee. Here are some of the top dos of onboarding new hires.
Have a Personalized Welcome Packet for All New Hires
A welcome packet is a great way to introduce new hires to your company’s culture, values, and mission. It’s also an opportunity for you to give them all the information they need to get started in their new role.
Here are some things you can include in your welcome packet:
- A welcome letter from the CEO or President
- A company overview
- An introduction to the team
- A list of company values
- The employee handbook
- Policies and procedures
- Job description
Don’t forget to include any relevant forms that need to be filled out, such as direct deposit forms or tax forms. You can even include a company t-shirt or other swag in the packet.
Set Expectations Early
If you want your new hire to be a high performer, it’s crucial that you set the expectations early on. What does this mean for the onboarding process? It means having honest conversations about what their job will entail and what’s expected of them from day one.
These conversations shouldn’t happen during the onboarding process. They should happen before the new hire’s first day. That way, there are no surprises.
Your new hire can start their first day with a clear understanding of what their roles entail. The best way to set expectations is to have a meeting with your new hire’s manager before their first day.
This gives the manager a chance to go over the job description, expectations, and company culture with the new hire. It’s also an opportunity for the new hire to ask any questions they may have.
If you’re not able to meet with your new hire’s manager before their first day, there are other ways to set expectations. You could send them a welcome email with information about their role or have a team call with their direct reports to introduce them to the team and go over what’s expected of them.
Announce Their Arrival to the Team
Make sure to announce your new hire to the team. This is an integral part of onboarding because it helps your new hire feel welcome. It gives them a chance to start building relationships with their co-workers.
There are a few different ways to announce your new hire’s arrival. You could send out an email, post it on your company’s intranet, or make an announcement at your team meeting.
During the announcement, include the new hire’s name, job title, start date, and a little bit about their background in the announcement. You can also include a photo of the new hire if you have one.
Make sure to welcome your new hire in the announcement and let everyone know that you’re looking forward to working with them. This is a great way to build relationships and create a positive work environment.
Help Them With Administration
The thing about new employees is that they must go through a load of bureaucracy. From filling out tax forms to signing up for benefits, there’s a lot of paperwork that needs completing.
As the employer, you’re responsible for helping your new hires get through it all. The first step is to ensure you have all the necessary documents and forms ready before their first day. This gives them an opportunity to get started on the paperwork as soon as they arrive.
Next, it’s essential to provide clear and concise instructions on what they need to do and where everything is. Finding forms and figuring out the correct process can be overwhelming for new employees.
So, make things easy for them by providing a step-by-step guide through HR forms management.
Also, don’t forget to follow up with your new hires after completing the paperwork. This shows that you care about their onboarding experience and want to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Schedule Meet and Greets
You know what they say, first impressions matter. The same goes for onboarding new employees.
According to recent research, 20% of new hires resign within the first 45 days. This is potentially bad for business.
You’ll have to go through the recruitment, hiring, orientation, and onboarding process all over again, which will cost thousands of dollars. So, it’s important that you set the tone and make a good impression from the start.
One way to do this is by scheduling a series of meet and greets for your new hire. These can be scheduled with different members of the team or even different departments. This will help the new hire feel more comfortable and allow them to get to know their colleagues better.
Make sure to schedule these meet and greets in advance so that everyone has time to prepare. Utilize professional software programs to your advantage and make such onboarding processes seamless.
Provide Opportunities to Build Relationships
You can’t underestimate the importance of building relationships, both with your new hire and their colleagues. Strong relationships are the foundation of a successful new hire onboarding experience.
One way to encourage relationship-building is to create opportunities for social interaction. This could be as simple as holding a weekly virtual happy hour or planning an offsite team-building retreat.
Another way to nurture relationships is by assigning a mentor. This person can help answer any questions the new hire has and show them around the office. A person they can look up to and want to continue working for the company.
The Don’ts of Onboarding New Hires
Now that we’ve covered the do’s of onboarding, let’s take a look at the don’ts. You should avoid these things if you want to ensure a smooth and improved onboarding experience for your new hire.
Don’t Forget to Onboard Your Remote New Hires
You’ve just hired a superstar remote worker. Congrats! But don’t forget, even though they’re not in the office doesn’t mean they don’t need onboarding.
Remote workers often need more focus and attention when it comes to onboarding. You see, about 54% of employees feel disconnected from the company, something you want to mitigate from the word go.
Here are a few tips for onboarding your new remote hires:
Schedule Regular Check-ins
Set up weekly or biweekly one-on-one meetings with your new hire. This gives them a chance to ask questions, give feedback, and feel connected to you and the company.
Make Sure They Have the Tools They Need
Send your new hire a list of the tools they’ll need to do their job well, like good computer and software programs. Make sure they have access to all the company resources they need.
Set Up Social Calls
It’s important for remote workers to feel like they’re part of the team. Set up social calls or video chats with the whole team regularly. This is an excellent way for everyone to get to know each other and build relationships.
Help Them Create a Routine
One of the benefits of working remotely is having a flexible schedule, but that can also be a downside if your new hire doesn’t have a good routine.
Help them by suggesting a few different ways to structure their day, including breaks and time for socializing.
Onboarding your new remote hires doesn’t have to be complicated. Just put in a little extra effort to make sure they feel connected and supported, and you’ll set them up for success.
Don’t Overlook the Pre-Onboarding Process
You’ve probably heard of new hire onboarding, but have you heard of pre-onboarding? Pre-onboarding is the process of getting new hires excited about starting their job before their first day.
Why bother with pre-onboarding? Because it can help reduce anxiety and increase excitement levels, which leads to a smoother transition into the company.
Here are a few tips for pre-onboarding your new hires:
Send a Welcome Email
A simple but effective way to start the pre-onboarding process is to send your new hire a welcome email a few days before their first day. Include information about what they can expect, who they’ll be meeting with, and what they need to bring.
Give Them a Tour
If your new hire is coming in for their first day, give them a tour of the office or workspace so they can get familiar with their surroundings. If they’re remote, send them pictures or a video tour.
Set Up a Call
Schedule a call with your new hire a few days before their start date so you can introduce yourself and answer any questions they have. This is also an excellent opportunity to start building rapport.
Don’t Skip the Training
Even if your new hire is a superstar, they still need some training to get up to speed on your company’s culture, values, and systems. Skipping the training step will only set them up for failure in the long run.
For effective employee training, you want to start with the basics. Give your new hire a crash course in the basics of their job, like using the company’s systems and software.
Also, don’t forget to provide them with feedback. Feedback is essential for helping new hires improve and grow in their role. Make sure to give both positive and constructive feedback, so they know what they’re doing well and where they need to improve.
Don’t Overlook Employee Feedback
When you’re onboarding a new hire, it’s essential to get feedback from your existing employees. They’re the ones who will be working with the new hire on a daily basis, so their feedback is essential for making sure the onboarding process is successful.
Here are a few tips for getting employee feedback:
Set up a Meeting
Schedule a meeting with your employees to introduce the new hire and get their feedback on the new hire onboarding process.
Send Out a Survey
Send out a survey to your employees after the new hire has been with the company for a few weeks. Ask about their experience working with the new hire and what could be improved.
Get Input From Managers
Talk to your managers to get their feedback on the new hire’s performance and how they fit into the team. This is an important step for ensuring the onboarding process is working well.
Of course, getting feedback from the new hires is just as crucial. They’re the ones going through the onboarding process, so their feedback will be invaluable for making improvements.
The Ultimate Dos and Don’t of Onboarding New Employees
Onboarding is an essential part of the hiring process, but it’s often overlooked or done poorly. If you take the time to do it right, onboarding can be a great way to set your new hires up for success.
By following the tips in this article, you can make sure your next onboarding experience is a positive one for both you and your new hire.
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