Employees are the bedrock of any enterprise, and so finding the right team is an essential part of success. This well known fact means employers invest huge amounts of time and money into the recruitment process. But too often, having found the best people for the job, companies then struggle to retain their talent. A strong onboarding programme, to make new employees feel well orientated and at home in their new team, has been proven to help company retention rates. At CareerWise, we are experts in helping employers find and retain the talent they need.
Employees are the bedrock of any enterprise, and so finding the right team is an essential part of success. This well known fact means employers invest huge amounts of time and money into the recruitment process. But too often, having found the best people for the job, companies then struggle to retain their talent. A strong onboarding programme, to make new employees feel well orientated and at home in their new team, has been proven to help company retention rates. At CareerWise, we are experts in helping employers find and retain the talent they need. Here are our ten tips for onboarding a new hire.
Begin the process before they start their role.
Make sure your new recruit has access to as much information as possible about the job and the company, so they can begin on day one feeling that they have a grasp of company culture and where they fit in. Get paperwork sorted and contracts signed in advance, so that they really can start their job on their first day.
Create a mentor system.
Assign a well established employee to be your new recruit’s point of contact for any questions they may have. Make it clear that no question is too petty, and that they are welcome to turn to their mentor at any time for advice and guidance.
Introduce them.
Acknowledge the importance of the new team member by making sure that on their first day proper introductions are made. The whole team needs to be aware of their new colleague, in order to create a welcoming atmosphere. You should also provide a comprehensive tour of the office space, ensuring they can locate basic facilities such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Be organised.
Make sure that it is easy for your new hire to get to work as soon as they arrive. This means their workspace is ready to use, and well stocked with any supplies they may need. Ensure any phone numbers or email addresses they will be using are set up.
Create a welcome pack.
This should be an extensive file including all the information they may need in order to feel at home. Cover company structure, procedure, and codes of conduct. Make sure company culture is also clearly demonstrated; this could take the form of a video or interviews with fellow employees. Be sure to provide practical assistance, such as contact information, office layouts, and tips for the best places to get lunch!
Schedule regular check ins with your new hire.
During their first few weeks, line managers should be meeting frequently with the new recruit and enquiring how they are settling in. These meetings should be scheduled in the diary in advance of the start of the new job, to reassure the new hire that their ongoing welfare is important to the company.
Give clear instructions.
There is nothing more disconcerting than being unsure what is expected of you. The new hire should be confident that they know what you need from them, in order to feel at home in their role.
Create a learning plan.
This should set out what you expect your new employee to learn and achieve within a set amount of time. Early goal setting can help give a strong sense of achievement in a new role. Mastering the tools, skills and tasks needed for their job will help foster a sense of belonging.
Get to know them.
Ask your new hire to fill out a fun and informal questionnaire, giving them a chance to tell you about their life, both in their career and outside work. Share the answers with the whole team to create some easy talking points. Create a sociable atmosphere by hosting a team welcome lunch on the new hire’s first day.
Ask for feedback.
Your new hire will feel appreciated if you make sure to ask for their opinion; and specifically asking them how they feel about your onboarding process will help you to continue to improve and refine it.
CareerWise is Ireland’s leading specialist recruitment firm, based in Cork, Shannon, Galway, Mayo and Dublin – bringing together employers with the perfect employees. We specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting industries in Ireland, and we look forward to working with you. Contact us online now or call us on +353 (0)21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation.
Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.
He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.
He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.
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CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
Email: info@careerwise.ie
