Tips on How to Provide a Better New Employee Orientation

Tips on How to Provide a Better New Employee Orientation

To avoid having your talent jump ship, companies need to ensure they’re nailing their employee orientation. Below are some tips on how to improve, rework, and perfect your orientation experiences.

People experience a blend of emotions when they start a new job. Anxiety, excitement, fear, confidence, anticipation–but once an employee steps into orientation the last emotion they want to feel is boredom.

Due to low unemployment figures, many companies are losing new talent at the starting point before they can showcase all they have to offer. For talent, low unemployment means increased opportunities, so if a job gets off the wrong start, they have options to eject and look elsewhere.

Conversely, a strong employee orientation drives retention. According to the Society of Human Resource Management, 69% of employees are more likely to stay with a company for three years if they experienced great onboarding.

To avoid having your talent jump ship, companies need to ensure they’re nailing their employee orientation. Below are some tips on how to improve, rework, and perfect your orientation experiences.

Have a Program in Place

A quick briefing from a monotone HR associate in a cramped office is hardly an inspiring orientation process. Within busy companies with tight deadlines, this is a more common practice than one can believe. It should go without saying that the first impression will make a lasting impression on new hires.

Take on new hires with a consistent, substantive orientation process. That way all new hires will get the same information, understand the goals and vision of the company, and understand how they can fit into their new role.

The new hires should be in an atmosphere conducive to learning. A conference room with breakfast and detailed notes already prepared is a stronger start than a dimly lit corner office with stacks of paperwork. Have the notes prepared beforehand so that the overwhelmed employees do not feel like they have to write everything down.

Include Lively Supplemental Resources

It might seem most efficient to treat orientation like a college classroom — lecturing and bombarding new employees up front like a professor. However, do not forget that new employees are humans too. Many have different learning styles than auditory.

Supplement paperwork and lectures with interactive learning. Get orientees up and moving, meeting co-workers, creating things, taking tours, or getting a hands-on view of how things are done. Make the process of exploring how an individual’s background and talents can be used here. Do not let them zone out valuable information.

Respect the Process

Leaving the first day of work overwhelmed but expected to get to work the next morning can be daunting for new hires to think about. Some of them might even be having second thoughts. It is paramount to understand that people need time to adjust. Just like in our personal lives, change is not easy.

Try having a separate sit down with a new employees’ team. It can be work focused but can also just be a meet and great atmosphere. Making someone new feel comfortable is what is most important, if you hired the right talent, the work would come easier that way.

Think about checking in with a weekly update meeting or assigning a “buddy” on the same team who can assist and serve in a mentor-like capacity. Encourage all questions, big or small, and do not let an employee feel dumb for asking anything. An employee that is asking questions is one that is engaged, which is exactly what you want.

Teach them to Speak Your Language

Most companies have a particular style or culture around the office. Whatever that is, prioritize getting new hires to speak your language. Not only is that jargon that will be used on the floor, but also the type of behavior appropriate. When new employees are speaking your team’s lingo, their transition to the team becomes easier.

Do Something Special

Everyone loves to feel special. Even pessimists. Start a new hire’s experience off with a bang. Giving an employee something to kickstart the orientation process with or remember their first day by, will keep them interested and impressed by your company. Make orientation a celebration by:

  • Have candy, flowers, or any sort of gift basket at their orientation desk
  • Cater an awesome lunch or breakfast during their first day.
  • Distribute company swag — Mugs, T-Shirts, Bracelets, Hats
  • Have a cake
  • Have a welcoming committee party

Whatever you do, make orientation a well-thought, special time for employees. Make hiring a special experience for you by working with Reliable Resources, Inc.