From rapid technological improvements to the work-from-home wave during the pandemic, how we bring on new employees seems to be constantly changing. With catalysts of change, such as these, what does onboarding mean for you and your company in these new times?
If the changes of the world seem insurmountable, here’s a few ways for you to make your onboarding process as easy as possible for both the company and the new employees you’re bringing on.
Online vs Inperson
Take a second to reflect and consider which is best for your company and what will give your new employees the right impression. There is no correct answer here, just what’s right for your business.
Say your new employee is set to fully work from home, but they are local to the office, either choice might be correct to give them the proper idea of what the company is like. If onboarding will be done at home, it’s the first step in what their normal working days will be like.
If it’s in person, but they will be working online, you’ll be giving them a chance to meet coworkers/supervisors in person and that could very well make a difference when reaching out with any questions they might have.
This won’t be possible if there is a large distance between the office and the employee. If that’s the case, consider recorded videos and video chats so they can put a face to supervisors and better know who they will be collaborating with.
Consider What They Need
Whether in person or online, your new employee needs to feel comfortable and quickly part of the team. These needs start at the employee feeling like they are informed. Make sure the employee knows everything they need to in terms of rules, policies, and dress code (in person or on video calls).
Make sure they know exactly what is needed and expected of them early on. This ranges from the specifics of their position to an explanation of the company’s structure. Give them proper documentation, that they can always access, for anything that may present itself in their day-to-day working life.
Give Them Someone To Go To
No matter how big or small your company is, giving a new employee a liaison as part of their onboarding is a great way to make them feel comfortable as they grow into their positions. New hires need to know it’s OK to ask questions and that comfort is going to come more quickly if they have someone who they know they can go to.
It’s easy to feel on an island as a new employee, especially when working from home. Try to give new employees someone to connect with as a way to be engaged with the work they are doing every day.
Workplace culture is always important and often why a candidate chooses one employer over the other. Knowing what the company is really like will be learned through their engagements and interactions with other employees and their supervisors.
