How to Streamline the Onboarding Process for New Employees
Once you find your next great hire, you want to help them succeed. This involves a smooth onboarding process. If you don’t have one, on the other hand, it can lead to a frustrating experience for new hires – hitting retention rates in the process. Avoid this by following these tips.
How Can You Streamline the Onboarding Process?
Send out paperwork ahead of time.
A new hire doesn’t want to spend their first day filling out paperwork. With everything digitized these days, they don’t have to. Send them any necessary paperwork or online onboarding tasks that they can complete before their first day.
Make them feel welcome.
If they arrive and you’re not available, or their office or workspace isn’t set up, it leads to a feeling of disappointment. Instead, make sure your new employee feels welcomed. Greet them when they arrive, introduce them around, make sure their workspace, computer and phone are set up, and invite them to lunch. This will send the message that you’re happy to have them as part of the team.
Be clear about tasks and responsibilities.
Give your new employee a run-down of what you expect in the first 30, 60 and 90 days. Talk about how progress will be measured and who they can turn to for questions and support if it’s not you. Give them time to ask their own questions so you’re both in the same page from the start.
Talk about company culture.
Beyond their actual tasks and duties, also educate them on the company’s culture, mission and vision. Review important policies with them, give them an overview of special events throughout the year, and provide as much insight as you can about the company intangibles, so they can navigate their way through their first days and weeks on the job.
Pair them with a buddy.
This is a great way to integrate your new hire, make them feel welcome, and get them up to speed as quickly as possible. Just make sure the person you ask to be the buddy is someone with the right temperament – experienced, patient and a good communicator.
Follow up routinely.
After their first week on the job, make sure you’re following up with them regularly. Do informal check ins and also schedule time to meet with them at the six week and six month mark to talk about progress and performance.
Ready for professional help with hiring and onboarding?
At Gill Staffing, we’re one of the top staffing agencies across the West Michigan area. With our team of experienced recruiters, we can help you hire, train and onboard new people, so your company is stronger and more successful. Simply contact us today to get started.
