(From Interview, to First Day and Beyond)
Think you’ve found the right person to fill that open position? Now, make sure you have everything ready to bring them on board. Just like you, your new hire has expectations – and that includes cues that you have everything in order for their arrival. If you don’t, they will know and it could predetermine their success and longevity with your company.
BEFORE THE FIRST DAY
Start Off Strong
When adding a new person to your staff, you’ll want to make a great first impression. This starts before their first official day. Think about what the person sees during the interview process, how they’re communicated with during the period between the interview and job offer, how the job offer is presented, etc. All of this can influence a new hire before they even arrive for their first day. Have a well-organized process from the very beginning; checklists can be extremely helpful to stay consistent.
Prepare Yourself
After the job offer has been accepted and before the first day, it is key to get everything set up for you and for your new hire. They will likely be nervous about starting a new job, and you have a lot going on managing your daily workload. It is helpful to have some onboarding tasks done before their first day.
- Send a welcome packet. Include documents to be filled out ahead of time along with other important information to help answer some frequently asked questions for your new hire. This allows the first day to be less about paperwork and more about getting acclimated to the company.
- Make sure a workstation or uniform is ready for them before they arrive. This will make new hires feel welcome and help them to get settled into their new role.
- Address anything else that may help to ease a new hire’s stress and get them excited. Have a plan ready for their first days and be prepared with people and resources to answer their questions. Clear time on your calendar to be available for your new employee.
THE FIRST DAY AND BEYOND
Stay Organized
Every new employee must feel welcomed on their first day; make sure they are greeted warmly. Orientation should include a tour, introduction to colleagues and managers, and other basic information.
Your new employee will also want to be presented with what they need to be prepared for their work. During the first week or two, the new hire should have the opportunity to shadow many of their colleagues. Showing them different projects and work areas can pique their interest and invite more questions. It will also allow them to become more comfortable with their new co-workers.
Making these first days special will leave a lasting impression and will help your new employee realize that they are an important part of the organization.
Check-In
Onboarding doesn’t just stop there. Many organizations have check-ins as the employee progresses. These will often happen in set intervals during the first 30-90 days. This is when you will complete more of your onboarding process, but will also allow you to follow-up on your new employee’s opinions of your organization and ensure they are set up for success.
The most important part of onboarding is listening to employees. If someone has a question or thinks there is room for improvement, listen. They may be able to help create a better process for you and for your new employees.
To learn more about career opportunities at Society Insurance, click here.
