How to Design a Smooth Onboarding Process for Your New Employees

November 18, 2022
Contents

Finding the right employees for your company can be hard. But after countless interviews and efforts, you may find the perfect recruit for the role. 

What next? While finding new employees may be daunting for HR managers, onboarding new employees is another hurdle. 

Employee onboarding is a great way to introduce new employees to your company. 

Doing an excellent job onboarding new hires is key to retaining top talent in your organization. You do not want new employees to leave the company for silly reasons. 

That would be a waste of your time and resource. In this article, we will talk about the employee onboarding process and how to follow a good employee onboarding.  

What is Employee Onboarding?

Employee onboarding is the process of bringing new employees up to speed with your company, its culture, and its goals.

It's essential because, without it, you can't expect your employees to be able to do their best work.

Employee onboarding aims to help them learn how to work in a way that makes sense for your company and helps them succeed. 

Employee onboarding isn't just about teaching people how things work—it's about helping them understand why things are done the way they are, why you have certain expectations for them and their role within the company, and how they fit in with other employees.

Employee onboarding also gives managers a chance to get to know their team members better before they have any opportunity for actual work together. 

This helps ensure everyone understands what's expected from them before they're working on projects together or making decisions that affect each other's jobs.

What is the Employee Onboarding Process?

Employee onboarding is an integral part of your overall employee management strategy. It's the process of introducing new employees to the organization’s environment and culture. 

It involves welcoming new hires into the company by providing them with information on their new workplace (e.g., office location and hours, how to use email and other online resources, etc.), helping them adjust to their new workplace, and informing them about important policies and procedures to help them adjust to their new role quicker.

All the companies have their unique onboarding process. While some may take 90 days, some may take just 30 days. It all depends on what role you are preparing the employee for.

Why Is Effective Employee Onboarding Important?

1. Increasing Employee Retention

When you bring on new employees, you want them to stick around and become a valuable part of your company. This means that you must ensure they're happy with their new jobs and have all the tools they need to succeed in their roles. 

If you don't provide these things, you risk losing them after just a few months.

2. Enhancing Your Branding

When employees feel supported by their managers, they're more likely to stay committed to their jobs for longer periods. 

If you have a brand that people love working for, it will be easier for them to stick around until retirement or when they decide to move on from working for your company altogether.

3. Increasing Employee Satisfaction

If your employees are satisfied with their jobs and feel they have everything they need within their departments, they will likely stay committed to your organization long-term. 

No matter how much you pay your employees or what benefits you offer them, no money will make up for their jobs if they aren't satisfied!

A happy employee feels appreciated and valued at work — it's one of the best ways to build a loyal customer base and create lasting brand loyalty in return.

4. Enhancing Employee Productivity

When employees are set up correctly and given the tools they need to succeed, they are more likely to produce higher-quality work. 

It's a win-win situation for both sides: the company sees increased productivity, and the employee feels valued and motivated.

A Good Employee Onboarding Process Flow

The employee onboarding process flow is the step-by-step sequence of activities involved in hiring new employees and onboarding them into their new job roles before they start working in the company.

Every relevant team member must help the new employee to learn the ropes. We have mentioned a good employee onboarding process flow that can benefit you.

1. New Employee Recruitment

A good employee onboarding process flow starts with new employee recruitment. This is when HR should be in charge of finding and recruiting all new hires.

The recruitment stage is where the process begins, and it should be an exciting time for everyone involved. 

During this stage, potential employees will be asked to complete an application form and submit it online or via mail. 

Then recruiters will interview them for the role. A new employee is hired if the recruiters believe the candidate fits the criteria.

The first step for any new employee is to be aware of the company's values, culture and policies before joining the team.  

2. First Office Visit

Once a new hire has been recruited, it's time for the first office visit. 

During this meeting, HR can introduce themselves and their company, discuss the role, review paperwork and contracts, and provide any other information necessary for the new hire to understand their responsibilities and the benefits offered by their employer.

A thing to keep in mind is that the candidates sometimes have to visit the office during the interviews. So the first office visit may not necessarily be after the hiring.

It can be during the interview as well.    

3. Sending an Offer Letter

A good employee onboarding process also includes the step of the offer letter, which is sent to all new employees. 

The offer letter summarizes the company's benefits, how much they will earn per year, etc. 

It also includes details about the position and responsibilities and how long it will take before an employee's first day at work.

The offer letter is sent out after an interview and should be sent within two weeks of the interview date (unless otherwise stated in the job description). 

It should include benefits, job duties and responsibilities, how much money they will earn per year, expected start date, etc. 

4. Offer Acceptance

Once the candidate has received an offer letter, it depends on whether they want to accept it as soon as possible.

The sooner they accept your offer letter, the better for you because you can fill the possible as quickly as possible. 

If the candidate has any questions about what's included in the offer letter, they can immediately contact human resources (HR) to help answer any questions. 

5. Early Onboarding for New Employees on the Waiting Period

Another step in any employee onboarding process is to have a solid plan for how you will take care of your new employees during their first week or so on the job. 

This can include providing orientation and training and ensuring they are firmly integrated into your team. 

You should welcome them to the fold sooner and explain to them their duties. Early onboarding means training the new employees sooner when they are in their waiting period. 

During the training period, a new employee should shadow others and learn about the company's ways. 

6. The Day of Joining

The day you hire someone new is the perfect time to introduce them to the rest of your team in person so that everyone can get to know one another quickly and efficiently. 

This is also an excellent opportunity for you to meet with each new hire individually and review any unique expectations or requirements they may have before they start working for your company.

The day of joining is valuable to any new employee, so make sure you make it memorable. Be warm and welcoming. Let them know they are a vital part of the team, and you would like for them to feel at home. 

7. Coordinating with Other Departments

All departments onboarding new employees must coordinate their efforts so that everything runs smoothly from start to finish. 

If someone new needs help setting up his computer, someone from the IT department should be able to walk him through it immediately. 

If there's an issue with their getting paid through payroll software, the HR department should be able to fix it. 

8. Training and orientation of New Employees in the First Weeks

The first few days or weeks can be overwhelming for any new employee. These are the first days and weeks when new employees are onboard. 

So you need to have a seamless orientation. Here are a few things you can do to make things easier for newbies. 

You can provide employees with a comprehensive orientation to include all aspects of the job, including:

  • How to handle emergencies
  • How to use company equipment
  • Where to find things in the office, etc. 

This is not an information dump; it's an opportunity for you to get comfortable with the new employee and let them know what you expect of them. 

  • Introductions to crucial coworkers and managers who can help answer questions or guide new employees through their first few weeks on the job.
  • A welcome packet with information about benefits, policies, etc., so they can quickly get up-to-date on anything significant to the company. 
  • A handbook or other written resource that will help new employees with the first few weeks at work — any internal policies or procedures that need explanation should be included in this resource so that they're always available when needed (e.g., company dress code). 

9. The first quarter

The first quarter is when you will be able to see if your new employees are performing well, and you can determine how to help them get better.

You might want to ask them for feedback (and give them feedback on their performance) and provide them with some training in the first few weeks to become familiar with the tools you use for company operations.

In the first quarter, your company's new hires will learn about your culture, how the organization works, and how to do their job. 

This is also the time to get them comfortable with the people they will report to and work with daily.

10. Ongoing Employee Engagement & Team Building

Introducing a new employee to your team isn't enough; they should also be active in the team-building process. 

You'll want to ensure that your employees are engaged from day one and feel comfortable using your tools, especially if they work closely together. 

This can include team-building activities like going on a picnic or having a movie night with colleagues at the office.

It should also include more structured activities like running group projects or putting together presentations on company information-related topics such as product development or industry trends.

Tips and Tricks for Developing an Onboarding Process

1. Prepare Colleagues for the New Employee

Your first impression of your new employee is the most important one. 

If you can get them to feel comfortable, they will be more likely to learn from you and stay with the company in the long run.

For that, you need to prepare your colleagues for the new employee. This means setting expectations and providing advice to help them get comfortable with the new employee. 

2. Make Introductions

The best way to welcome your new employee is by making introductions. This can be done through email or in person, depending on whether all your employees are available.  

It's also important to show that you're happy to have them onboard! If you want them to feel comfortable during this process, try giving them a tour of the building before they start working on their first day.

This will ensure they know where everything is located and who is responsible for certain office areas.

3. Orientation

Once your new hire has been introduced to everyone else and knows how things work at the office, it's time for orientation! 

Orientation usually occurs during the first day or two of employment or on day one after starting the job. Here are some tips for making sure everyone gets along:

  • Make sure everyone understands how long each person has been here and how long they've worked together.
  • Have a learning session about all of your company's policies, procedures, and systems so that everyone understands where they fit into everything. 
  • During this time, the new employee will learn about company policies and procedures and any other information they need to know about the job before starting work on day one. 

4. Plan a Team Lunch

Lunch is one of the best times to get everyone in the office together and discuss how things are going. Most of all, it's a conducive time to introduce the new employee to everyone. 

A team lunch can be an interactive but casual meeting to put the new employee at ease.

It's also a great way to get feedback from everyone involved and ensure you're on the same page about what's working and what isn't. 

It's an opportunity to celebrate milestones, which can be motivating for everyone involved.

5. Engagement

Set up an engagement session with your new team member as soon as possible after their onboarding period ends. 

This is your chance to check in with them and make sure that everything is running smoothly and that they feel comfortable in their new role and excited about what's ahead for them at work.

6. Follow-Up

A good follow-up process will ensure that you stay connected with all of your new hires throughout their time at your organization. 

It can help you support them as they continue on their journey towards becoming experts in their field or becoming successful leaders within your organization at some point down the road!

FAQs: Onboarding process

What is the HR onboarding process?

HR onboarding is introducing new employees to their new roles and responsibilities. It can include orientation materials and training opportunities to help them understand their role in the company and its goals.

What are the 5 C's of onboarding?

There are 5C's of onboarding. It includes Compliance, Clarification, Confidence, Connection, and Culture, and their significance keeps increasing down the line. It means that culture is the most important factor in the onboarding process. 

Why is a new hire onboarding process important?

All companies need to have an effective onboarding process so that their employees feel valued and take pride in their work. If a company doesn't have an effective onboarding process, it could lead to a poor employee retention rate, lost productivity, and higher training costs over time.

What is a new hire onboarding checklist?

A new hire onboarding checklist is a list of tasks and processes you must complete when a new employee starts at your company. 

Employers often use these to ensure that they're providing their new employees with all the information they need to understand how the company operates and how they will be expected to perform their job.

What are the benefits of having a new hire checklist?

Having a new hire checklist gives managers and HR professionals peace of mind as they can ensure all tasks are covered by their departments. 

It also gives employees more confidence in their roles, knowing precisely what is expected of them.

How long does the onboarding process take?

The duration of your onboarding process depends on several factors, including how many employees you have, how much information you want them to have at the beginning of their employment, and how well you've prepared for their arrival. 

However, most companies say it takes three to six months to complete. This is because it takes time to develop systems, policies, and procedures that will support your team's growth throughout the year.

How do I know if my new onboarding process is effective?

You'll know if your onboarding process is effective if employees are happy with it and feel ready to take on their new roles without any issues or concerns arising.

What makes a good onboarding experience?

The best way to ensure your new employees feel welcome and supported is by making them feel like they are part of something special. 

Employees must feel welcomed and valued from their first day on the job. 

You can do this by setting clear expectations for what is expected from employees during their first week on the job. 

The more specific the expectations are, the easier it will be for new employees and managers to know what needs to be done during this period.

How do you make an onboarding process fun?

Onboarding works best when you make it fun for your employees.

You can do this by ensuring that there are many opportunities for them to learn new skills or participate in projects that interest them most. 

You also want to show them how much you care about their well-being and growth as individuals and employees.

Conclusion: Onboarding process

The onboarding process is not just a formality but also a tool to achieve specific goals. 

If you do not create an effective onboarding process, your new employee will lose their motivation and interest. 

You will be left with a dissatisfied employee, increasing your costs while diminishing the return on investment you expected with their employment.

Following the steps and suggestions given in this post will help you make your new employee feel comfortable from the first days and increase their motivation to perform well.

Written By
Ankita

Create Stunning Videos Easily

Skyrocket your video marketing efforts today

OFFEO Video Templates

Create stunning animated social media videos in afew clicks

Related articles