Don’t overlook the power of onboarding
Key takeaways:
Businesses focus on hiring talented staff but they cannot overlook onboarding.
Onboarding helps new hires get acclimated to the workplace.
New hire productivity can be improved by an effective onboarding process.
Competent onboarding reduces turnover rates.
Employers should enthusiastically welcome new employees to start off on a positive foot.
A good onboarding process introduces the employee to several departments within the company.
You should outline the job description and set proper goals for the employees in your onboarding process.
Since the dawn of business, companies have focused on hiring talented workers, as they should. Once a new hire starts their first day of work, however, it’s very important that they go through an effective, welcoming onboarding process.
Poor onboarding leads to confused, unsatisfied employees with higher turnover. With 21% of millennials reporting to have left their jobs in the previous year, it’s crucial that managers retain their skillful employees.
For businesses, onboarding new employees can be cumbersome and challenging but it doesn’t have to be. We speak about the importance of implementing an efficient onboarding process, how to do it, and how DOXA can effectively assist you with onboarding new hires.
What is onboarding and why is it important?
Onboarding is the process through which new hires acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors to become effective employees of an organization. It’s usually made up of a series of steps that your business takes to transform a promising hire into a top-performing employee.
This process teaches your new hire valuable things. He or she gets to understand the right attitude needed for the job, your company culture, and your overall expectations. The process should also reveal how employees should conduct themselves and the competencies that the job requires.
It shortens the adjustment period
Your new hires need to get acquainted with your company as soon as possible. It is not quite enough to simply direct your new employees to the best restaurant at lunch.
Offshoring companies do not do onboarding in person and thus use other, effective methods. New employees need to know what a company expects of them and where to find a support system in case they are having challenges. Setting coherent expectations from day one will ensure your new offshore employees clearly understand their roles. This shortens the adjustment period, allowing them to start working immediately.
Boost the productivity of new hires
It takes some time for new hires to get as productive as your other team members. A great onboarding process can, however, reduce the time it takes for your new employees to be productive. Why is this? Well, new employees usually have a lot of questions, have processes to learn, and are not comfortable in their new roles, yet. An efficient process for onboarding new employees will give answers to these questions and more. In turn, your new hires can get to work as soon as possible and be productive.
Improve employee retention rates
If you are an HR manager, you probably know the costs and effects of high employee turnover. Poor employee retention will cost your organization thousands of dollars. This does not include other unseen costs, either, such as overall reduction of productivity in your firm and loss of specialized knowledge. You are also likely to witness a reduction in morale from the other staff. With 46 percent of newly-hired employees failing within 18 months, a good onboarding process Is crucial.
Establish a strong company culture
One of the quickest ways for offshoring companies to build a strong company culture is by having a comprehensive onboarding process. If you communicate your work values from the first day then people are more likely to follow this culture. New hires will not only understand the company’s policies but they will also feel valued.
How to improve your onboarding process
There are a few best practices for onboarding that all companies can follow. Incorporating them will ensure you get the most out of your talented new hires. Without further ado, here are the secrets to onboarding new employees effectively.
Start with an enthusiastic welcome
People rarely forget their first day at work. This is why you need to have an unforgettable welcoming process that makes new hires feel like they are part of your brand. You can organize a staff meeting or a welcome brunch for your new hires. Offshore companies may, however, find this difficult as their hires work remotely. A great way to do this is by introducing the new staff in an email or meeting to existing employees. You must create an enthusiastic welcome as this will set the tone for the rest of their working period.
Introduce new employees to different departments of your organization
Did you hire an awesome marketer? How about a tech wizard? Do not just introduce them to other staff in the marketing and technical department. Try to involve other departments in your company such as HR, sales, product development, and accounts among others. This allows your employees to understand the structure of your organization while also giving them useful contacts in the company.
Ensure the job description is clear
Share a well-defined, clear job description with your new employees. This will help them understand their roles at work and how to go about them. Though you would have likely spoken about the role in interviews, we all know it can change a bit once the person actually starts working for your company.
Have both short and long-term goals
Aside from having a clear and concise job description, you should also create goals for your new employees. Without setting the proper goals for your new staff, you will be leaving them to guess what they have to do. Creating short and long-term goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) for your employees is a nice way to reveal your expectations. You should have a sit-down with your new employees and outline weekly, monthly, or even annual goals.
Let us help you create the perfect onboarding process
There are a myriad of benefits from a good onboarding process. Companies boost the productivity of their new hires, reduce employee turnover, and establish a strong company culture with an efficient process.
That said, you may not always get it right when creating your onboarding process. That is where a professional staffing agency comes to the rescue. At DOXA, we not only help you hire the right staff but we can craft an excellent onboarding process. Simply contact us today for a free consultation.
