Happy Ever After On-boarding
There is no better feeling than when you go home from your first day at a new job and you tell your family you’re confident you made the right career decision. Top organizations understand it’s in their best interest to make their on-boarding process both welcoming and effective. Here are some things to keep in mind from the new hire’s perspective:
It’s all about Communication
Make sure you reach out to your new employee between the job offer and day one. Hearing from their new employer gives positive confirmation they left their previous role for good reason.
Get Housekeeping Matters Completed Early
Many times half of the new hire’s first day is spent in paperwork.
I would suggest you be proactive and get that paperwork completed ahead of time.
Set Expectations in Advance
When you start a new job, it’s like “drinking out of a firehose.” It is process information overload. Go ahead and get some of the simple expectations out of the way in advance. Answer a new hire’s questions such as: What’s the dress code? Where should I park? Will I be working a full day on my first day? Who are the key players in the organization? Can you provide me with an organizational chart?
Make Onboarding a Team Effort
A new hire shouldn’t be meeting with just one person the entire first day.
A new hire shouldn’t be meeting with just one person the entire first day. They should be talking with a collective group of key players. This will break up the monotony of the day. This exposure to the organization will go a long way to making the new person feel welcomed and engaged.
Save time for Questions
New hires will have questions so make sure your organization has time set aside for discussion. The first day isn’t the time to rush people through a cookie-cutter orientation program.
Make a Plan for 30, 60 and 90 Days
If you set expectations in stages, the new hire won’t be overwhelmed and will clearly see goals and objectives. Have questions prepared for each stage so you can gather feedback on how the new hire is doing. Moreover, this will help you improve your overall onboarding process.
