Employee onboarding is the process of providing new hires with the information they need to feel comfortable in their new position. It is essentially the period of time that counts the most as new hires get oriented to the company, policies and culture.
Therefore, it is highly important to consider what to do and not to do during this process. Onboarding not only helps new hires feel welcome in their new job, but speeds up the transition and helps your company as a whole. The first few days of an employee’s new job are critical to their long term success, both for the employee and the rest of the staff.
When creating an onboarding program, try not to make the following common mistakes.
Failing to Create a Formal Onboarding Program
The first and most common mistake made is not having a structured onboarding program. If you think you can simply have a new hire start without some type of structured schedule laid out, you’re going to find those first few days or even weeks, very hectic.
It can take a few months for a new employee to feel comfortable in their new position and with their fellow colleagues. It is important to have a program in place for this period of time. This includes starting with their first day and providing them with all the resources they will need, introducing them to employees, giving them orientation and explaining your company’s policies. Have a training program in place for their position, so they are not just forced to start working right away with little help.
Requiring Too Much of New Hires
Just like any new experience, the first day at a new job should not be too overwhelming for employees. The majority of the day should be about allowing the new hire to get familiar with their surroundings, meeting new people and only beginning to see what their job will be like. Have them watch someone else perform the job, if at all possible, before giving them the reigns. Try to stretch out the onboarding process for several days or weeks, instead of trying to get everything done in one day. Remember that new hires need time to overcome their learning curve and become comfortable in their role.
Not Outlining the Job Responsibilities
During the interview, you most likely summarized the job and responsibilities, but the employee is going to need more detailed job information when they start the job. Preparing a packet for their position is an effective way to show them exactly what their job entails and all of their regular duties. If you can, contact someone who previously had that position and ask them to make a list of all the duties required, both large and small. This lets the HR department and management explain their responsibilities so they don’t fall behind. It can also potentially hurt your business if new employees don’t fully understand what is expected of them and things get lost in the shuffle.
If you create a solid onboarding plan and avoid these mistakes, you shouldn’t have no problem introducing the new hires to their new positions. If you are looking for Chicago temp agencies, contact Davis Staffing today.