It's crucial to extend a warm welcome to new hires as this approach will ensure they are eager to join the team and are inspired to get started.
It may sound like a cliché, but people are social beings. Some appreciations can never go amiss.
Psychology aside, good employee onboarding practices can increase retention by 82% and productivity by over 70%, according to multiple studies.
Therefore, let’s start with this important point.
Welcoming New Employees
There are numerous ways you may make a new hire feel at home. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
1. Customize Onboarding Training
Onboarding training programs should be adaptable. Use appropriate methods to complement the different personalities of your employees.
Easier said than done, but there are successful strategies how to accomplish this complex task.
Templates are a good starting point. Enrich the generic organizational orientation training with a unique onboarding program based on a pre-defined template.
Be aware that some new hires might require further training, especially if they must get familiar with intricate procedures in a short time span.
It is essential to not rush the onboarding program; it should be created in a way that allows every new hire sufficient time to master it.
2. Personalize New Hire’s Desk
Make sure the workspace has been cleared. Pay particular attention to the desk the new hire will be using. The desk needs to be cleared of any leftover items from the previous user.
You may go one step further and personalize the desk. E.g., you may add a couple of balloons or a welcome card, but only if the new hire is the type of person who appreciates such gestures.
3. Assign a Mentor
A mentor should be assigned to each new employee. The mentor should be familiar with the new hire's area of expertise and have previous experience mentoring new team members.
Even though onboarding training should serve as a solid starting point, new co-workers usually have many questions when starting out. Pointing them to an experienced mentor will ease their troubles in this regard.
In addition, you should make sure that the surroundings are enjoyable. Encourage new hires to interact with colleagues from other departments. Even before that, schedule meetings with key individuals.
In this way, new employees should get a good idea of how your organization is functioning.
4. Show Appreciation
When new team members arrive, think about what you can do to make the transition easier for them. It’s recommended to introduce them to the projects they'll be working on and express your gratitude. Think in terms of the Japanese (conformist) society if you need additional tips.
This applies to remote workers as well. It is critical to show your enthusiasm and gratitude for the skills and expertise they bring to the table.
5. Prepare an Onboarding Kit
Here’s a creative tip: prepare a kit for employee onboarding.
Nothing screams “welcome” louder than a small appreciation gift like this one.
There are many ideas to include in the kit, so make sure to customize it in accordance with the employee’s preferences.
Some ideas to get you started include training materials, a drawstring bag, a hat, a customized T-shirt, a notebook, a chocolate bar, wireless earbuds… the list goes on. Customize your present for some added fun (and appreciation).
6. Compose a Welcome Email
A welcome email is crucial!
This is a must-adhere-to step for new remote workers as they can’t enjoy many of the benefits your office workers can.
The welcome email should be encouraging. E.g., mention the reasons why you hired them, adding that you’re looking forward to the skill sets they’re bringing to the table. It’s an effective method to give new team members a sense of recognition from day one.
If you’re using an instant messaging program or team management software (Slack, Asana, and similar), include a welcome message here. Keep in mind that new employees tend to be shy at first, so be mindful of the message.
The message should help them break the ice and join a group chat with ease.
While We’re at New Tech…
Providing state-of-the-art tech is one of the biggest benefits new hires are looking forward to. However, this doesn’t mean that every app is helpful or that too much training will make anyone happy.
Present trends dictate the following:
- IoT for asset management
- Cloud-based software for remote work
- Artificial intelligence for business automation
- Inventory management software for supply chains
Make sure to set up a training program for new hires. Also, the mentor should be rather knowledgeable about the software.
7. Schedule One-On-One Meetings With High Brass
This is one of the most important steps for new hires. Most people want to get to know their immediate manager ASAP so that they can form an idea of what to expect (and how to behave). It is essential that new employees are set up to speed about the most important procedures, including but not limited to: their tasks, organizational procedures, workplace culture, and connecting with co-workers.
Keep in mind that this information must be provided by you, and as soon as possible at that. That’s where a one-on-one meeting with high brass comes in handy. It doesn’t have to be necessarily official, either. An informal meeting is just fine and usually preferable to rigid formal meetings too many employees dread.
Key Takeaways
As you can see, there’s much more to be done to make new hires welcome. Getting them to relax first is crucial and there are multiple ways to achieve this.
Showing appreciation is a splendid icebreaker, so make sure to provide a welcome message (or email), customize new employees’ desks, and get them to mingle and learn the ropes.
A business culture that cherishes cooperation will have an easier time getting new co-workers to fit in, so think creatively (cross-cultural training, mentors, one-on-one informal meetings with high brass, etc.).
Basically, you’ll want to be relaxed and casual and inspire confidence in new hires. How you achieve this is up to you!
Onboarding process aims to integrate a new developer physically, emotionally and professionally into the new workplace. Not only does it help a new developer feel more comfortable in the team, but also it encourages engagement and commitment. In addition to that, it facilitates a variety of goals - from attracting the top talent to minimizing hiring costs.
That’s why if you want your new developers to hit the ground running, you should provide them with the tools, education, and information they need to perform their job effectively right from the start. The more the newly recruited developers know about the company, the greater the productivity is. Read our article to reveal how an onboarding process works, what the goals are, and how the hiring company and the new developers can benefit from it.
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