Starting a new job can be challenging. The first few days at a new company often determine whether an employee stays. Therefore, set up the onboarding process correctly, as it is crucial and strategic.
Do you know how to set up onboarding so that it is effective, practical, and as easy as possible for the HR team? Don’t underestimate it. Proper onboarding reduces turnover, shortens the adaptation period, and promotes teamwork, employee engagement, and motivation.
5 tips for effective employee onboarding
- Prepare a first day full of positive impressions
Have a clear program planned for the newcomer’s first day. The key is a warm welcome and all the necessary preparations. Ideally, the new employee should be welcomed in person by their supervisor. Also have recruitment documents, information about the company, and a starter pack of company materials ready. Work equipment, such as a laptop, phone, and access to systems, should also be provided. Include something fun on the first day, such as lunch or coffee with the team. - Onboarding plan
Prepare an individual onboarding plan for the new employee, which should last several weeks to months, depending on the complexity of the position. It should include a list of key tasks and milestones for the first few weeks, an overview of employee training, workshops, and coaching, including the names and contact details of the responsible persons. Regular meetings with a mentor and manager should also be included. - Don’t underestimate the role of a mentor
- A mentor can greatly help a new employee quickly integrate into the company and the team. They provide support, guidance, and answers to questions, which reduces the stress associated with a new environment.
- Online HR tools make everything easier
These can include online company training and e-learning, where possible, of course. This helps save time and money. Automated welcome emails, online checklists, and virtual reality simulations of work tasks and situations are practical tools. You can also try special onboarding platforms. - The HR application that your employees have as part of the Verso package will also help.
There are many features that will certainly be useful for newcomers. In the Personal Profile, they will find profiles of individual employees, and in Find a Colleague, they will always find the person they need. In News, they will find key company updates, and in Ask Your Employer, they can ask anything that interests them. There are a number of useful and entertaining features here. - Keep improving onboarding
Don’t be afraid to ask new hires for feedback on the entire onboarding process. This will help you identify mistakes and continuously improve and innovate the process. Also, monitor turnover rates during the first six months and ask for feedback from mentors and managers.
What are the latest onboarding trends?
These include, for example, tailoring the entire process to the individual needs and goals of employees and involving all stakeholders across departments (from managers to colleagues, IT, and HR). The entire process is streamlined through the use of artificial intelligence and online tools. With growing threats in the area of cybersecurity, it is also advisable to include training on data security.
Onboarding is not just a formality, but a strategic process that affects the success of the entire company. Invest in it – it will pay off!
What helps you with onboarding? Share your experiences with us.
