Everyone has had the experience of their first day on a new job, and all the fears and excitement that go with it. Most companies have some plan in place for their employees to ensure they provide the company with documentation showing they can be employed in the USA, and to get any and all paperwork signed. Usually this happens on day one, but sometimes it takes a few weeks or months to get it all done. Employees at most companies spend their first day getting a tour of their workplace, introductions to coworkers, and a spot in the workforce of their own, whether that be a desk or a location on an assembly line.
What do new employees really want and need from their employers as a newbie to the company, though? Studies show that employees have created their personal impression of a company within the first 30 days of employment. This is a case where first impressions count, and the way you welcome an employee to your company’s family can have a lasting effect on retention. Which brings us to the topic of onboarding.
Onboarding is a process that we use to help new employees come “on board” to the company, and usually consists of a number of small processes that may include first day schedules, new hire orientation classes, and other kinds of training or paperwork that need to be provided early in an employee’s time with the company. Onboarding is essential to creating successful employees, but can be a neglected issue in companies that are understaffed in HR, underfunded, or who have not taken the time to recognize how important their impression on the new employee can be. It is in this process that we as educators should be taking into account not only what we need our new hires to get in terms of training and information, but also broadening our vision to discover what new employees in our company need from us. We have a strong influence on the burgeoning trust of our new coworkers and can place into their hands all the keys they need to be successful and feel like there is a place for them to do well and grow within the company.
Next: Day 1 processes
Great article!