How to get employee onboarding right

A new day, in a new job, has enough to set a new employee on edge. Throw in poorly handled onboarding and (if you're not careful) you'll find yourself right back to the recruitment process.

Onboarding, also known as organizational socialization, is an important part of helping employees understand their new position and job requirements. But what new employees really want is confirmation that they have made the right decision in their new role.

During the interview process, employees try and learn as much as they can about a company and its values. It is harder, however, to find out about a company's culture and day-to-day work dynamic. So the first day is the first plunge into a completely new environment.

As an employer, it is your duty to ensure your new recruits are comfortable on their first day and that any fears that they may have been soothed.

Before a candidate accepts a position, it is helpful to let them know what your company's onboarding process looks like and what will be expected of them. Ensuring they have this information before the job starts will give them a huge insight into your company culture.

At Blakeney Point Search & Selection, we help employers with this transition by keeping both the employee and employer in the loop through the whole process.

In our experience, these are some of the things new employees like to know:

- What to expect on their first day.

- What sort of equipment they'll be using: Smartphones, Laptops etc.

- An understanding of how the company is organised so they'll know who does what.

- A chance to meet and get to know their colleagues.

- At the end of the orientation, their manager takes over and welcomes them to the team.

The process of onboarding details a plan of action that is designed by the company to help their new employees effectively adapt to their role and corresponding duties.

Getting onboarding right will benefit not only employees but the company too. Here are some benefits you might not have considered:

Reduces future hiring costs – The better the onboarding, the less likely you’ll have new employees abandon their roles early on. As a result, a company will not need to spend money on another round of recruitment and onboarding.

Improves employee retention – The chances of highly skilled workers leaving their job are reduced. Invest in proper employee training to make sure your employees stay in the company.

Increases productivity – Happier workers are more productive. Take the time to nurture a healthy work environment to increase employee engagement.

Quicker adaptation – Workers who receive more guidance integrating into the company, will adapt better and be more successful.

Greater identification with the brand – Encouraging employees to become more involved in the company activities, results in a greater investment in the company, its values, and the brand as a whole.

Builds stronger workplace relationships – Onboarding new employees and welcoming them to the team, by introducing them early on to their co-workers, naturally facilitates teamwork.

Improved company image – Integrating recent arrivals with an onboarding plan does a favour to the company. This action puts forward the impression that the company is concerned

If you're interested in getting Onboarding right as well as many other aspects of the recruitment process, why not get in touch with the Blakeney Point team who are always happy to help!

Visit our website at www.blakeneypointsearch.com to find out more.

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