Hiring great professional is the first significant step but losing that talent is very fast within the first few weeks or months. That's why companies are seriously embarking on onboarding process. If carried out correctly it helps the company retain their workforce for an extended period.
Steps to follow in onboarding
With business differing one to another, certain items are essential and can work in most business setups.
Accommodation - means that everything intended for the first day is ready before the new employee arrives. Create a checklist that includes:
- All the paperwork required for new hires
- Tools they will use on the job
- Preparing the employee's workstation in readiness for the first day
- Stock the workstation with a computer with required programs installed, a telephone, enough paper, pens, employees contact information and anything else required
- Email or chat accounts set up - they can either be created or listed down for the new hire to create them.
- Team members to meet and work with on the first day
Assimilation - means you prepare your managers who will handle the onboarding and provide them with every requirement. The first day for the employee, the manager must be present to receive the new hire/s and maybe take them out for lunch. Assimilation involves:
- Meeting with your direct supervisor to develop the new hires roles, goals, and projections
- Creating 30,60 and 90-day plan for them to effectively follow
- Indicating the exact timelines for each project and knowledge required
Acceleration - It entails admission and on-the-job training to ensure they understand and can execute the new tasks offered to them. It includes:
- Lay out your expectations and your list of expectations and goals as simple as you can
- Explain the company culture and discuss the company values
- Update the new hire with the current happenings and advise them where to start.
- Introduce the required readings to help the newbies catch up with the current projects in the company.
- Issue small tasks or projects meant to be carried out on the first day, so the new hires feel productive.
- Issue the longer term plans for the week and explain what is expected of them.
- Connect them with their team leaders so they can have someone to go to for questions.
Throughout the first month - Make life easier for them by helping them build a foundation in their new position. Provide them with resources that will contribute to both their personal and career growth. Integrate them to a social circle that they can relate to easily.