The Importance Of A Quick Employee Onboarding Process
Onboarding is the process in which an employer prepares a new employee to join their team. This process helps new employees understand the details of their position, introduces them to coworkers and managers and helps them see their role within a company. Onboarding can take days, weeks, and even months to complete, depending on the position and what is required to foster independent, efficient, and productive employees.
Onboarding requires careful attention to detail. Done correctly, it sets employees up for success, which in turn increases the chances of company success. Companies that rush through this process or don’t take it seriously risk the chance of not properly training their new hires. Inadequate training can lead to serious errors, safety concerns, and employee turnover. Prioritizing the onboarding process and making sure it is done quickly and effectively is key to building strong, competent, teams. So how do you do it?
Start Employee Onboarding Before Day One
Nobody wants to spend their first day at work filling out paperwork. A lot of the onboarding process involves collecting data and filling out forms, and a lot of this can be done before the employee’s first day. If you hold an orientation event, use this time to collect the basic data you need to start the onboarding process. Being proactive allows new employees to start working right away instead of spending their first day working on payroll, benefits, scheduling details, and tax forms.
Implement Digital Employee Onboarding
We live in an age where almost everything can be done digitally. Converting some of your traditional onboarding methods to digital can help speed up the process and get new employees working faster. Some ways to digitize the onboarding process include:
● If part of your onboarding process includes having employees watch company-wide videos, send these videos virtually so employees can watch them at home.
● If there are small group meetings that happen during the traditional onboarding phase, host these meetings via Zoom instead.
● Create ways for new employees to socialize and meet their team virtually, through a group chat or workplace social media platform. This way, when they arrive they will already have a basic idea of who they will be working with.
● Connect new employees with a mentor. Share contact details and encourage the mentor to reach out and introduce themselves. This gives the new employee a specific person to connect with.
Stay Organized With An Employee Onboarding Checklist
Successful and effective onboarding starts with being organized. There is a lot to keep track of and a lot to do, and the entire process slows down when there is miscommunication. One of the most important reasons to stay organized during this onboarding process is that it sets a solid first impression. When this process is organized and seamless, employees will expect the company to run the same way. If this first impression is chaotic, they may worry that the company is run the same way. Transparency and efficiency in this part of the onboarding process set a precedent for what employees can expect for the long-term.
When new employees have the right information and equipment from the start, they can start being productive right away. This quick and effective onboarding helps new employees feel empowered instead of trying to figure out where they should be and what they should be doing their first few days on the job. This confidence will reduce those new job jitters and help them feel at home more quickly.
Have A “Week One Plan” For Employee Onboarding
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is why having a one-week plan helps both you and your new hires know what to expect, how to prepare for their first week on the job, and gives you realistic and achievable goals that can be measured at the end of the week. This plan can include an agenda of meetings, deadlines, and goals the new hire should be aware of their first days on the job. Have the new hire be a part of the goal-setting, and plan to check in frequently to make sure all of their questions are answered. At the end of the first week, set aside some time to sit down and go over their progress and answer any additional questions they may have.
When new employees know what to expect the first week, and that they don’t have to know it all the first few days on the job, they will be more relaxed. Having a one-week plan doesn’t mean the onboarding process only lasts a week, but it is a good way to measure goals as they navigate their first week on the job.
Look To The Future Of Employee Onboarding
Onboarding doesn’t always have a clear end date. Teaching, training, and guiding new employees may always be a part of your company culture, so it’s important that you don’t try to fit it all into a specific amount of time. Use the orientation and your one-week plan to get the basics down, and then plan to extend this training into the future. Employees should always have opportunities to receive further education and training that will help them be more successful in their positions. Spacing the training out over time also prevents new hires from feeling overwhelmed.
Need Help With Onboarding?
The work you put into your onboarding process determines the growth of your business. It also contributes to positive company culture and a solid start for new employees. Onboarding doesn’t have to be tedious or boring, but it does have to be well managed and intentional. Hiring a professional staffing agency in Los Angeles can help you find, screen, and recruit top talent so you can build top-performing teams. Learn more here.
