Strategies for Effective Onboarding: How to Ensure New Hires Are Set Up for Success
It takes a significant amount of time and energy to identify the right employee for an open position. There is a major competition for the most qualified professionals, and when someone decides to sign a contract with your company, it can be an exciting opportunity.
Now, it is up to you to maximize the value of that new hire, and that starts with the onboarding experience. What do you need to do to put new hires in a position to be successful?
1. Start the Onboarding Process Early
First, you need to start the onboarding process as early as possible. Ideally, this process should begin before the first day, providing new employees with ample opportunity to prepare.
You should start with a basic welcome email that will outline the agenda for each employee’s first day on the job. You may also want to provide valuable information about the company's culture, values, and mission. While this information may be covered during the onboarding process, providing the employee with a bit of backdrop can help them place the onboarding process in context.
Do not forget about the basic nuts and bolts. Let employees know where to go, where to park, and what to wear. This can reduce employees’ stress and anxiety on the first day while also letting them know that the company will support them every step of the way.
2. Connect the New Employee To Peers Quickly
New employees should also be given an opportunity to connect to their peers quickly. If you are hiring multiple employees at the same time, you may want to put everyone in a group chat to allow them to connect before the first day. Some of the ways to help employees connect include:
Provide a book of names and faces before the first day
Ask employees to write a bio they feel comfortable sharing with their peers
Have virtual of digital icebreakers
Invite all new hires to dinner the night before the first day
That way, they always have people they can talk to, bond with, and ask for help. Remember that many of these employees will be working together, and the sooner they get to know each other, the more productive they will be when it is time for them to start their new jobs. Futuris can provide companies with the latest digital technology to help new employees connect with each other quickly.
3. Clearly Define All Roles and Expectations
Employees will want to know exactly what they will be doing as quickly as possible. Ensure each new hire understands his or her role in the company and how they fit in as part of a larger picture.
In particular, you need to define key performance indicators. That way, employees will know how they will be evaluated. When employees understand how they contribute to the company, they will be more motivated to work harder.
4. Provide All Necessary Tools and Resources
One of the most common reasons why employees leave new jobs quickly is that they feel like they do not have enough support. Ensure all new hires have the tools and resources they need to succeed on the first day. For example, your employees will probably need access to laptops, certain types of software, an email account, and numerous other digital resources. Ensure they are also thoroughly trained on how to use all of these resources.
Do not forget about providing your employees with access to other types of support as well. Futuris regularly helps companies figure out which resources they need to invest in to ensure their employees are in a position to succeed. Assigning each new hire a mentor or buddy who will be with them during the training process can be beneficial. This will also make it easier for employees to learn more about the company’s culture while providing them with someone to answer their questions. These resources are crucial because they can help new hires feel like they are welcomed and supported as they adjust to a new work environment.
5. Provide Opportunities To Collect Feedback
Employees want to feel like their opinions matter, and this includes new hires. Therefore, provide ample opportunities for new employees to provide their feedback. Some of the ways to collect feedback include:
Schedule individualized check-ins with new employees from time to time to make sure everything is going well.
Provide opportunities for employees to give their feedback anonymously, as some employees may be more comfortable not attaching their names to their feedback.
You may want to provide employees with an opportunity to share feedback in a group setting as well.
Collecting feedback can show new employees that they are valued. Keep in mind that, if you use this feedback to improve the onboarding experience, it can go a long way toward retaining your most talented employees. Futuris can help companies strategize and collect valuable feedback from their employees before deciding how to implement it.
Maximize the Value of Your Employees With Futuris
At Futuris, we see how staffing solutions are evolving, and we strive to be at the forefront of that evolution. Our goal is to acquire companies that have strong financials and provide them with access to our full depth and breadth of capabilities to ensure they maximize the value of their most valuable resource: their human talent. Give us a call today to learn more about how you can partner with us on this journey.