Research shows that 76% of workplaces fail to onboard new employees adequately. A common misconception is that onboarding and orientation are the same thing. But onboarding isn't just getting to know the staff and office!
The onboarding process can make an employee either want to stay on for years or quit within a few months, depending on how well it's done. To avoid your business being one of those that shed staff after only weeks or a few months, ask yourself this:
What is the best way to onboard a new hire?
In this article, we will give you the tools and onboarding tips to make the most of this process and improve your employee recruitment and retention.
Why Onboarding Matters
As an employer, it's not enough to just offer free cookies and give away a tote bag when a new hire starts at your company.
That's why having an onboarding program is vital for new staff to feel welcome and part of the team. In addition, it helps people settle into the new environment, and understand their role and what your company stands for.
All of these factors play an important role in employee hiring. Failing to onboard staff well can lead to a higher employee turnover rate. A whopping 87% of employees tend to stay longer at a job if they feel engaged during the employee onboarding process!
So, you need to make the most of this stage in employee recruitment. Here are the best ways to increase employee engagement with onboarding so you don't need to waste time googling, "What is the best way to onboard a new hire?"
What Is the Best Way to Onboard a New Hire?
Let's take a look at the specific tips for a successful onboarding process for new hires. It's a good idea to create onboarding checklists so you can refer back to them in the future, to save time and ensure you don't miss out on important details!
1. Start a Conversation Before Their First Day
No matter what the job is, starting a new position can be scary. The best way to create a good relationship with new employees is to start a conversation before they come in for their first day.
Ideally, you want to get any paperwork out the way so the new staff member can enjoy their first day without the stress of signing documents and forms all day.
This early contact will make your company feel more like a family than a corporation, which can set the right tone for the future.
2. Be Clear About the Job
Often, people can become so overwhelmed by the details of a new job that they get confused over the exact definition of their role. Therefore, you should be clear about the job and what to expect.
For example, you should reiterate the fundamentals:
- Work hours
- Job title
- Salary
- Description of key tasks
- Experience needed for the role
Outline the correct expectations so that the new hire is clear on what's involved - they may not have remembered everything from their interview! You should make sure they know exactly what the role is and answer any questions they have.
After you've got these questions out the way, you can focus on welcoming new employees to your unique office!
3. Create an Exciting Orientation Schedule
No one enjoys watching PowerPoint after PowerPoint and listening to speeches for hours when they start a new job, but learning about company policies and guidelines is a necessary component to onboarding.
However, just because you need to inform the new hires about formal rules and regulations doesn't mean it can't be fun, right?
You can make a quiz or start a group activity where people have to make their presentations about the essential information. You can check everyone understood the brief - and what the information is - and it gets the new staff included.
4. Get Everyone Involved
The secret to a great onboarding for new hires is getting everyone involved. For instance, mentor programs are a fast and effective method of bringing the team together and introducing new people.
It eliminates any awkward conversation in the break room and allows new employees to get some guidance when first starting. You can also organize other social events that are less formal.
It's common to host outdoor events in summer for team-building exercises or create weekly newsletters of recreational events happening in the community.
This helps create a family ethos that will make the transition to a new workplace a lot easier for new employees!
5. Make Their Voice Heard
New employees can often feel they can't give you their opinion or speak up about any feedback they have but that's not a good way for them to start their journey at a new company.
Allowing your new staff to provide feedback during the onboarding process gives them agency and makes them feel more valued. This can help build better relationships with the other team members.
In addition to this, it can also give you ideas for improvements for the next hiring process!
Here is an overview of the onboarding checklist:
- Get to know new employees
- Give job details
- Make orientation fun
- Create a family environment
- Allow new staff to voice concerns
If you still need a little help then you can always sign up for our free online onboarding course for managers. This will give you some more skills to use during this recruitment phase which can boost your business.
Investing in onboarding will pay off when you have a team of happy and dedicated staff. You won't believe the difference it can make!
Use Onboarding to Your Advantage With the Right Skills
Now you'll no longer have to ask yourself, "What is the best way to onboard a new hire?" as you have your answers right here in this article. Keep note of this onboarding checklist in your office and you'll never be stuck.
If you feel like expanding your HR and hiring skills even further, then Intuto is the best place to get qualified in onboarding training. Take a moment to glance at our courses and improve your skills today.
You won't regret it and your staff will thank you for it!
If you have any questions, meet with us today.
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