WINNIPEG, MB – Having an effective onboarding strategy helps to smooth a hire’s transition into their new work environment, helping your new hire to excel in their role. Here are 5 onboarding tips for increasing the effectiveness of new hires.
1) Onboarding begins before the first day. As early as in the interview stage, a new hire needs to be aware of their employer’s expectations in the role. It should be made clear to the new hire that the employer has a defined plan for success in the role, by describing what that success looks like in the first 3 months, 6 months and even in the first year. This will not only give the employee a target and goal in the position, but will also help the employee to understand the scope role.
2) Always be prepared for a new hire’s first day. The hire should have every opportunity to hit the ground running. Setting up any necessary IT, ordering business cards, and planning out time spent with the hiring manager and team members during the transition are some examples of the detailed planning that should go into being prepared for their first day. Most importantly, have a plan for bringing your new hire up to speed, it is important not to overload an employee on their first day, but there should also be a structure for acclimating the hire into their new work environment on their first day. Introducing the employee to the team, as well as to key stakeholders in the company is an important part of making the employee feel welcome. I recommend that every new hire is announced to the organization, as well as directly introduced to their team and key members of the organization in all departments.
3) Onboarding a new hire is a team effort. Having one person be solely responsible for bringing a new hire up to speed not only slows down the employee’s ability to catch up, but it also restricts the employees learning by secluding them to only one employee’s mentorship. This way the new hire will inherit the best aspects of each of the employees in their team.
4) Give your employee the opportunity to connect with their team. It is often recommended to have a set time a place for lunch that employees can eat together and talk about life outside of work. Creating a social scenario where team members can interact and really get to know each other outside of the workplace welcomes the new hire and helps everyone on the team get comfortable with the new addition to the team.
5) Mutual feedback is essential at all stages of employment, but is crucial throughout the first six months to a year of a new hires transition. It is important to ask your employees regularly if there is anything else that they need to be successful. Let your employee know when they are doing a good job, and provide helpful tips so that they can continuously improve.
By Graeme Burke a Recruitment Consultant at The Headhunters. You can contact him at gburke@theheadhunters.ca