Many hiring managers focus on finding the right candidate for the job and securing their acceptance of a job offer. While it’s tempting to think of “When can I start?” as the end of the process, for a successful hire, it’s just the beginning.
Companies that hire well but have weak onboarding processes tend to experience higher turnover rates than companies that offer strong onboarding processes. Without good onboarding, candidates may not understand how their work contributes to the larger picture. They may feel they don’t fit in, and they may seek another job as a result.
Here are five ways to make onboarding a more effective experience for your new hires:
- Spread It Out
While orientation may be done in a day, onboarding your staff in a day or a week is more likely to overwhelm than help them. Instead, think of onboarding as a one to three-month process, and plan this process accordingly.
- Integrate Your New Hire Early
While onboarding should be distributed over several weeks or months, it shouldn’t be the new hire’s only responsibility. Plan onboarding so that your new hire spends each day partly in onboarding tasks and partly with their team, taking on the responsibilities for which you hired them.
- Draw Connections
Integrate onboarding and hands-on work more effectively by tying each day’s onboarding activities to the day to day tasks your new hire does. For instance, if your new hire is responsible for data entry, plan to have them begin a simple data entry project the same day they learn how to navigate your software.
- Ask For Feedback
During the onboarding process, check-in regularly with your new hire. Ask them to raise any questions they have or to give their impression of the process. Adapt onboarding as needed to help your new hire learn necessary skills and feel more confident in their knowledge.
- Plan With a Pro
For help planning a strong onboarding process, don’t hesitate to talk to a recruiter. Your staffing partner can provide an outside perspective and industry best practices for onboarding.
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At THE RIGHT STAFF, LLC, our recruiters help Twin Cities companies hire, train and keep some of the best available talent out there today. Whether you need help finding your next superstar or want to craft a long-term strategic hiring plan, contact us today.