Hiring new employees can be an overwhelming process. With a proper onboarding plan, you can make the procedure more comfortable for you and your new hires. Employees who feel welcomed and experience a smooth transition will feel valued and be more likely to stay with your company for the long run. Your firm will also benefit from having staff members who are up to speed quickly. New hires will have a better understanding of your processes and expectations and can become productive contributors much sooner. After hiring, your new employees will begin to form a picture of your company and how it is run. Having a smooth and efficient process in place to onboard will show them that your company is organized and well managed and that their time is respected. Here are six tips to seamlessly integrate new members onto your team.
1. Create a Checklist
Having a detailed checklist of onboarding procedures will ensure the process goes smoothly and employees know what to expect. Your HR and training departments can utilize the checklist to make sure that no steps are missed in the new hire process that you have laid out. It will also help you to make sure that your new worker gets all the information and training they need to start their position. Employees will feel more involved and comfortable if they know exactly what steps to expect in the process. The list will also be useful in making sure that you stay on schedule in accomplishing each of the tasks.
2. Make Access Simple
One of the most confusing things for new hires can be getting access to your company’s system and keeping track of logins and passwords. By providing passwordless login you can make the process stress-free for your employees. This method allows you to use alternate methods of verifying your workers without them having to remember a password. You can use biometrics, token-based, or email methods, depending on which is most convenient for your business and your employees.
3. Provide a Mentor
Your new employees should have someone they can contact directly with any questions they may have about the company, the onboarding process, their human resource concerns, or any other general questions they may have. Having one person who can get them the answers they need will make them feel more comfortable and save them time in determining who they need to reach out to. The mentor can also show them where their work space is, break room areas, restrooms, or anywhere else they need to find in the building. Giving them one person to reach out to will lessen confusion and make your new employee feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
4. Let Them Shadow Several Employees
Although having a mentor is great for new team members to have a dedicated contact, it is also important to give them a well-rounded view of the business. By shadowing multiple employees, they will get a better idea of the culture of your company and their new environment. This will also allow them to start building relationships with their team members sooner.
5. Make Them Part of the Team Right Away
The best way to get your newest employees involved is to get them working right away. The sooner they begin to mesh with their new team, the sooner they will be able to start contributing. The goal of the onboarding process is to get your employees working efficiently as soon as possible. They will also be able to meet their coworkers and begin to learn right off the bat. Your new hires will feel engaged and part of the company without time to get bored by extensive orientations.
6. Check In Regularly
New employees have a lot to learn in a short period of time. It is important to check in with them often to make sure that they are getting what they need to succeed. You should discuss where they are at in the onboarding process and what successes or difficulties they’ve had. You can also find out if they need any further information, training or supplies to do well. These check ins will also help your new hire to feel more comfortable and like a valued member of the team. You will also learn where you can make improvements to your process. A good onboarding program will change along with the needs of your company and your employees. Be sure to continue checking in with new team members for at least the first 60 days of their employment.
Finding the right employees for your team can be a difficult task. When you find a great one, you’ll want to be able to retain them. By following these tips to create a seamless onboarding process, you’ll be able to help your new hires feel comfortable sooner and contribute to their long-term success. Happy employees who feel valued are much more likely to stick with your company for the long run.
