As the talent war becomes daunting, organisations must go the extra mile with their HR practices. Excellent recruitment processes can get you the best candidates in the first place. But a great onboarding process is crucial to maximising the chances of retaining them for the long haul. It ensures that the hard work for finding and hiring top talent pays back by lowering the risks of early attrition and disengagement. So you must take a deep dive into your current onboarding practices to ensure they are good enough. Let us share some successful onboarding strategies business owners can rely on.
An optimal orientation process entails good planning for an employee’s first day. The effort indicates that you are sincerely interested in their successful transition. You must ensure that the recruit feels comfortable from the first moment they start their journey as your employee. Statistics indicate that 50% of new employees worry about equality and diversity in the workplace. They may have done their checks before putting in the application. However, experience has taught many that what a company says online may differ from what happens there. This is why the orientation process is an opportune moment to confirm and show the remarkable steps taken to support equality and diversity. Assign a mentor to guide new hires and make them feel welcome in the team.
You can start even before the first day by utilising an online portal that lets recruits access the necessary orientation material and fill out the essential documentation from home. It saves the time and stress of handling the paperwork stack on the first day.
When you onboard a recruit, you aim to equip them to deliver their best to the organisation from day one. The sooner they familiarise themselves with your company, the more productive they can be. Making learning and development a part of the onboarding experience is crucial as it enables recruits to stay ahead of their job duties and responsibilities and explore self-service capabilities. Consider L&D programs like providing them with short one-on-one training with managers, learning modules on essential software, and pre-recorded videos on company values.
Inspiring collaboration is another onboarding strategy you should not miss out on because it is the mainstay of employee productivity and engagement. Find creative ways to urge recruits to talk, resolve concerns, and share insights right from the start. Ensure that various stakeholders across the company connect and interact with the new hires. Even as you provide them with a buddy or mentor, team leads and vertical heads should do their bit to break the ice. Quizzes, questionnaires, and problem-solving exercises go a long way to boost collaboration during your onboarding process.
Besides explaining the job duties and processes to recruits, you must include culture coaching in the onboarding process. The mentor can help them understand and appreciate the organisational culture and practices. Introducing recruits to C-suite executives during the early stages also helps them develop a comfort level. Coaching should include regular check-ins by seniors during the initial phase to stay ahead of the issues a new hire may encounter. Providing a nurturing environment eases the stress of transition and leads to better outcomes.
An excellent onboarding strategy boosts employee productivity from day one and fosters loyalty in the long run. Embrace these tips to ensure a great experience for your recruits right from the start.