Employers and HR Staff should note that, when taking on new hires, it’s always a good idea to “onboard” them; that is, take the time to train a new employee once hired. Doing this can more smoothly integrate new employees into the company culture, makes them aware of company expectations, and engages them in a way that they can more easily become part of your company’s team. Below are some tips for onboarding your employee to ensure that, not only are they the right fit for your company, but also in the right mindset to work towards achieving your company’s goals.
After hiring the right employee, start onboarding early
During the hiring process it’s always important to be completely honest with your job candidates as to what the job is about, especially with regards to your job advertisement, as well as during the interview process. Once you’ve hired the employee, make sure to keep in regular correspondence before your new hire’s first day of work. During this time, you can have the employee fill out any necessary paperwork to send to HR so that everything is in order and your employee can hit the ground running on the first day. Be encouraging in your language so that the hire already feels like he or she is part of the company’s team. On the first day, make sure to have everything ready for the employee (nameplates/business cards, workstation), and make sure to create a welcoming atmosphere in the workplace.
Introduce the employee to the team
Make sure to introduce the new employee to their new colleagues. It is best to have these introductions spread out over a few days to avoid the employee being overwhelmed. Observe how the employee interacts with the team, and recognize him or her for early contributions, so that they feel that they already have some value towards the company. You may want to team the employee with a “buddy” to show the employee how the company works.
Provide orientations to communicate company expectations.
Having a “buddy” is just a small part of orientating the new hire as to how the company operates, what the roles of your various employees are, as well as what the aims of the company are. In doing this, the new hire will understand his or her role better. This is important, as it gives you a chance to communicate what the expectations of the employee are, and that they are clearly defined so the employee does not become confused as to what they are supposed to be doing in their role.
Continue to engage your employee after onboarding
Continued engagement with your new employee is just as important as initial engagement, as it allows you to get information on how the employee is doing in his or her job. You should communicate with the employee regularly to respond to any questions or concerns they may have with regards to their duties, as well as respond to any ideas they may have with regards to how they can better contribute to the company’s needs. It’s best to do this in regularly scheduled meetings, where you can give feedback on their performance, as well as find out their opinion on how they think they are doing and what they need to work on with regard to performing more effectively and efficiently in their duties.
Early onboarding serves the purpose of making sure that the employee can integrate into the company culture as smoothly as possible, and ensures that he or she feels like a part of the team. The onboarding process can help to prevent bad hires, as well as create a more professional and congenial atmosphere where new employees feel that they can excel in their jobs.
