10 Best Practices to Improve Employee Onboarding
The best onboarding program trends
Here are six of the top onboarding program trends:
Advanced onboarding
You can use the time before a new employee’s first day of work to assist them in settling into their position. As soon as they accept your job offer, you can start emailing them useful materials or critical documents. You can save a ton of time on their first day of work by having them fill out the necessary paperwork beforehand. You can also take advantage of this opportunity to update them on company developments and pique their interest in starting.
Customized onboarding
Some managers realize that onboarding isnt always a one-size-fits-all process. Because of this, it’s becoming increasingly popular to tailor your onboarding strategy to the requirements of your new hires. Because you are only providing your employee with the tools and training they genuinely need, customized onboarding can also save you a ton of time. When creating a customized onboarding program, consider implementing the following:
Social onboarding
Social media provides valuable information about your business to new hires. The trend of using social media tools for onboarding is successful because it allows new hires to learn more about their new employer by using their preferred social media sites. You might think about making an invite-only page where you can communicate pertinent information with new hires in addition to having a strong public social media presence. Posting images of company events, exciting company news, and employee achievements, for instance, can assist in giving new hires a sense of the workplace culture.
Company culture onboarding
It’s crucial that you find ways to introduce new team members to the company’s culture in addition to making sure they are familiar with company policies and procedures. Making your new employee feel at ease and knowledgeable from the start will help them feel more integrated. Make an effort to instruct them on subjects that may not be covered in the employee handbook. For instance, they might find it helpful to know about inside jokes, nicknames, and company jargon right away.
Specific skill onboarding
You can choose to first concentrate on teaching your new employees the more specific skills they’ll need for their role, even though general training sessions are beneficial. One task at a time instruction helps students better understand concepts and put them into practice right away. Think about beginning with a simple task and gradually adding to it. For instance, showing them how to use a particular program or piece of software may encourage them to later pick up more complex techniques.
Data-based onboarding
Another emerging onboarding trend is a data-based approach. At this point, managers gather data to help them decide how to improve the onboarding procedure. For instance, you can find out how new and existing employees feel about your onboarding program by sending surveys to both groups. You can make significant changes to the procedure by listening to the people your program affects and acting on their feedback.
What are the best onboarding programs?
The most effective onboarding initiatives aid new hires in feeling welcomed and ready. An onboarding program is essentially a procedure you use to assist new employees in becoming familiar with the business, their new role, and the obligations they now have.
During this time, you can introduce your new employee to the company’s policies and instruct them on how to perform their duties efficiently. Likewise, this is a good opportunity to introduce them to everyone and show them around the office.
12 onboarding program examples
Here are some examples of effective onboarding programs:
Instant goal setting
While some businesses might wait until after training is complete to assist employees in setting goals, you can be more proactive and insist on new hires doing so right away. By doing this, you can assist them in having an immediate positive impact on the business. Setting goals early on shows that this is an important aspect of your company culture.
Welcome kit
Consider providing a welcome kit to new employees if you really want to “wow” them. A welcome letter, custom business cards, office trivia, educational materials, and anything else that will make a new hire feel at home can be included in this small gift. Even including a cute coffee mug or T-shirt with the company’s logo is a sweet way to welcome them.
Company-wide announcement
When a new employee starts, let the entire company know. This will make your new team member known to superiors and personnel in other departments. You could share it in your company messenger instead of sending an email to the entire company, which is also a great way to accomplish this. People can respond to the news in real-time in this way by sending supportive messages or amusing welcome GIFs.
Interactive courses
Making automated, engaging courses is a great way to hasten the onboarding process and maintain the interest of your new hires. Create a module for them to complete rather than making them read through numerous employee handbooks and documents. For the course to be more immersive, try to include videos, tests, stories, and audio.
Decorated office space
Decorate the employee’s workspace to make their first day of work memorable. For instance, you might buy a few balloons, streamers, and other party supplies to adorn their desk or cubicle. This is a wonderful way to express your excitement about their joining the team. It can also serve as a reminder to your current team members that a new member is joining.
Icebreaker sessions
Consider holding an icebreaker session to help new hires get to know one another when several are starting at the same time. Have them engage in some enjoyable activities and respond to ice-breaker inquiries during this meeting. One entertaining game is called “two truths and a lie,” for instance. Each person should now share two true facts about themselves and a lie. Then, everyone goes around guessing which statements are true. Everyone will enjoy learning more about one another in this way.
Free samples
Consider providing free samples to your new hires if your business produces a product. This is a fantastic way to make them feel welcome and introduce them to the product. For instance, if you run a restaurant, you could provide your new hires with a complimentary meal from the menu as part of their onboarding process.
Buddy system
Starting a new job is a thrilling experience, but it can also be a little unsettling. Assigning your new team member to a buddy will help them feel at home right away. Select a coworker who the new hire will frequently collaborate with. Request that this employee assist the new hire with their onboarding process. You are enhancing the team-building process and making the new person feel supported.
Welcome breakfast
A welcome breakfast is the perfect way to start a new employee’s day. You could even ask them in advance via a brief survey what their preferred breakfast options are. This is a fun activity to do with your entire team. Your current employees might enjoy any opportunity to bond over waffles and eggs, just as much as your new hires might appreciate the hospitality.
Onboarding seminars
If you need to impart a lot of information at once, think about inviting new team members to an onboarding seminar. Give a presentation on topics like employee policies, company culture, HR procedures, and other useful information during this session. After the meeting, be sure to send the participants any slides or other supporting materials you used.
Happy hour
The at-work happy hour has been welcomed by some industries, including marketing and advertising. In some offices, there is even a designated area for a bar that the staff can use occasionally. When a new employee begins, think about arranging a brief happy hour for them. This allows them to mingle with everyone in the office.
Coffee talks
Have one-on-one coffee meetings with everyone as a way to introduce your new team member. Have your new employee meet with everyone for 30 to 60 minutes during the first few weeks of work. They can talk about their roles and receive guidance during this time. Since everyone can meet with your new employee one-on-one, this onboarding strategy is especially effective for smaller businesses. Encourage the upper management, including the CEO, to meet with your new team member. To have the opportunity to speak with those in positions of authority may be very important.
FAQ
What company has the best onboarding process?
- Netflix: A culture and leadership-driven onboarding program.
- Quora: Tailoring new hire goals to their booming startup.
- Digital Ocean: A People-First Hiring Experience.
- Twitter: From ‘Yes to Desk’
- Buffer: the ‘Three-Buddy’ system.
- Linkedin: the New Hire Roadmap.
What is the best onboarding software?
- Stage 1: Pre-onboarding. …
- Stage 2: Initial onboarding (new hire orientation) …
- Stage 3: Team-focused orientation and training. …
- Stage 4: Growth, mentoring, and initial performance.
What are the 4 phases of onboarding?
When human resources teams use the term “onboarding,” they essentially mean everything that takes place after a new hire signs an offer letter to help them begin in their role. Administration, orientation, and enablement are the three overlapping phases that typically encompass all those various activities.
What are the three 3 phases of employee onboarding?
When human resources teams use the term “onboarding,” they essentially mean everything that takes place after a new hire signs an offer letter to help them begin in their role. Administration, orientation, and enablement are the three overlapping phases that typically encompass all those various activities.
