6 Tips on How to Onboard New Hires

Hiring great employees can be quite tricky. Sourcing and attracting new talent require a massive amount of effort and money, especially when companies are hiring en masse. Do you know that 90% of employees decide whether to stay or go within the first six months at a new job? The cost is significant if an employer fails to retain new hires. It also impacts your reputation as an employer when you have a high turnover rate.

People make these decisions based on the lack of attention they get as new hires. When employees start their jobs, they want to know that their role is essential and that they are appreciated while getting acquainted with the company and its corporate culture. In Korn Ferry survey, 98 percent of respondents said that onboarding programs are a critical factor in retention efforts. It’s essential for organizations to properly onboard new hires and provide a lot of support among them. While it offers a chance to get new employees up to speed on everything, it ensures that they’re just as excited to be there as part of your team.

How to Onboard New Hires

Here are 6 tips on how to onboard new hires and make them into great team members:

1) Before the first day

If there is any paperwork which can be completed in advance, send it a few days before the new employee’s first day. Keep regular contact and communicate with what’s expected on Day 1. It can include the first day’s schedule, dress code, and if the employee has to bring anything such personal documents that HR needed to be signed, etc.

2) Make an announcement

Announce it to the entire company via your communication app that you just hired a new employee, who will bring in new knowledge and skills to the company. Add a little information about the employee, such as the employee’s job role and responsibilities in the company. Let the team members welcome and connect with the employee.

3) Define expectations

Employee handbooks and job descriptions can be ambiguous for new employees. To get to the full scope of how things work, ask your managers in the hiring process to develop a complete set of guidelines and expectations for their new hires. This helps new employees understand what is fully expected of them and how their team operates.

4) Introduce stakeholders

An organization chart provides a picture of who reports to who can be a useful tool to learn the company’s hierarchy. Take time to explain to the new hire the different layers in the company’s corporate structure, such as who are the executives, the managers, etc.

5) Jargon learning

Every company has its own language and jargon. As you go along onboarding the new employee, explain to the new employee the different corporate phrases and in house jokes so the employee can understand some of the contexts.

6) Rules of Engagement

Take time to explain the rules of engagement and etiquette, followed by the company. Convey to the new employee the company’s internal regulations and directives in the company’s communication culture, such as meeting participation, or dialing into meetings.

Creating a positive experience for new employees to ensure staff engagement and helps them succeed in their new roles.