Your first day at a new job can be overwhelming whether you’re just getting started with your first career after college or have been in your profession for twenty years and are just changing employers. Not only do you have to get used to a whole new company, set of faces, and new way of doing things, but there may be new processes and procedures for you to follow that you aren’t used to yet.
Having a nice welcome and the right tools to help you right from your first day can make the process of transitioning to a new company easier. If you’re an employer, your employee onboarding program can ease new employees’ fears and make them feel like part of your company from day one. Getting off one the right foot with a new employee can help with retention and overall happiness. There are a few things you can do to get on the right track with your onboarding program and ensure your new hire is happy.
Be Prepared
Show your new employee that you’ve been eagerly awaiting their start date by being prepared for their arrival. This includes letting coworkers know to expect a new face around the office and getting their workstation set up with all the tools they’re going to need, such as a computer, phone, email account, and printer access. These may seem like small things, but when your new hire walks into the office and has everything already set up for them they can begin to settle in right away.
Give a Tour
New employees will want to know their way around the office when they start, so take some time to show them around the building. Let them know where essentials are, such as the kitchen and employee break room. Introduce them to the people they’ll be working with so that they can put a face to the name. This makes your employee feel included and can put them off on the right foot with their coworkers as well.
Find a Mentor
Most companies have an informal mentoring program to help new employees acclimate to their job. Having a mentor can help them if they have any questions about their benefits and other things they may not be comfortable asking you right away. Mentors can provide a great opportunity for new employees to get their questions answered until they get the lay of the land at their new job.
Offer Training
You should get your new employee set up with job training as soon as possible, before their tasks start rolling in and they get overwhelmed by a growing to-do list. If your company has training for new hires, send your employee right away to help them adjust and get all the information they need to do their job to the best of their ability. The more you can set your employee up to succeed, the better off everyone will be.
File Paperwork
The first few days of a new job are often filled with paperwork while your employee gets set up with everything they need, such as their W2, insurance, and other benefits such as their 401k. They may even need to fill out paperwork to gain access to certain computer programs or parts of your building, so get that all done as soon as possible so they don’t feel overwhelmed and have everything they need in their new role.
Start Small
One of the worst things you can do for a new employee is to throw them into a bunch of tasks before they’ve had time to adjust to their new job. You should start them small with easy, manageable tasks to test out their skills and allow them to build their confidence in their new role. Provide plenty of instructions so they don’t feel like they’re operating without and guidance and give plenty of feedback early and often to help them grow.
These employee onboarding tips are a great way to set up your new hires with everything they’re going to need to be a success at your company. The more you can offer them from the day they start, the more successful they’ll likely be at your company.
