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5 Steps to Ensure Smooth Onboarding
In today's market it's hard to know if a new hire will stick. And you really can't know for sure. But what the research shows is that roughly 20% of new hires leave within the first 45 days. and 30% leave within the first 90 days. Given the amount of resources that go into recruitment and onboarding, these stats should be taken seriously.
What Contributes to New Hires Leaving?
I know you don't want to hear this but it's likely your onboarding process. When there is a lack of clarity as of Day One, you're sending a message that your organization is disorganized. When your new hire doesn't even know what time to show up at on their first day, they start their tenure with your company already feeling undervalued.
5 Steps You Can Take to Ensure Smooth Onboarding
Before the new hire starts (aim for one week before) send them an email that includes the following:
start date and time
what the first day will look like (when will they meet the team? are you taking them out for lunch?). Provide a clearly detailed agenda for at least the first day. If possible, outline a tentative schedule for the whole week.
Make sure someone is there to welcome them and get them sorted. If it's a virtual role, make sure a meet and greet is scheduled right for their start time
Create an Onboarding Manual - what do the first 5 days on the job look like? The first 2 weeks? The first 30, 60, 90 days? Create a roadmap with check points. Clarity is your friend. Better to overcommunicate than undercommunicate.
The new hire's direct manager should schedule weekly check ins, starting the very first week they are on the job
these should follow a certain structure and ask specific questions such as
How are things going?
What is a current roadblock for you?
Are there any gaps in your training?
What do you need more support with?
What is going well?
Make sure that all access the employee will need is in place for their first day on the job. After the first couple days in the role, they should no longer be running into access issues.
Assign someone (whether a peer, a trainer or the manager) who is familiar with the role to get the new hire up to speed and ensure they are completing training at the pre-established check points
While this is not foolproof, it does significantly increase the chances of your new hire staying longer term. When an employee feels supported, they become more committed to an organization. When they see that you appreciate the skill and value they bring to the table, they go above and beyond. It can't hurt to put in the extra effort!
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