Starting a new job is an exciting new chapter. As you join a company, you‘re eager to meet your coworkers, dive into your responsibilities, and start achieving success in your new role.
But without a solid onboarding program, it‘s easy to feel lost during your first critical weeks or months at an organization. Between navigating new systems, absorbing large amounts of information, and figuring out workplace dynamics, it‘s a lot to take on at once.
That‘s why thoughtful onboarding is so important. Let‘s explore what makes an effective onboarding program and how it sets you up for a great start.
What Exactly is Employee Onboarding?
Onboarding refers to the process of integrating a new hire into a company and role. It begins immediately after an employee accepts a job offer and can span their first 90 days to even a full year after starting.
Onboarding goes far beyond basic orientation. It continues providing you support, training, and guidance as you transition into your team and responsibilities. The goal is to swiftly align you with the company‘s culture, strategy, tools, and norms so you can contribute fully.
Now let‘s look at the 10 elements every onboarding program needs to drive new employee success.
1. Clearly Defined Goals and Objectives
Well-designed onboarding begins with clear objectives – it‘s not just a laundry list of orientation activities. Companies should define:
- What knowledge will new hires gain?
- How will they be trained on systems and duties?
- Which relationships will they establish?
- How will they learn company values and culture?
With strategic goals outlined, you can shape onboarding content and touchpoints to support achieving each one. Clarifying these desired outcomes from the start prevents onboarding from becoming disorganized and drawn-out.
Examples of common onboarding goals:
- New sales reps understand CRM and prospects within first 2 weeks
- Engineers fully configured with software and equipment within 5 days
- All new hires meet with department teams and leaders in month one
Checking in on progress gives you visibility into whether onboarding is on track or needs adjustment to hit each goal.
2. Immersion in Company Culture
Organizational culture encompasses the unwritten norms, attitudes, expectations, and values that shape the employee experience. Learning these cultural nuances quickly is vital for assimilating into your new workplace.
Onboarding introduces you to the culture through training, socialization, and mentorship. You’ll learn:
- Workplace communication and collaboration styles
- Shared language and jargon among employees
- Common practices, motivations, and challenges
- Underlying values that drive decisions and behaviors
- Traditions, rituals, and events that bring people together
For example, a tech company may highlight values like radical transparency, continuous innovation, and scrappiness. Getting immersed in the culture molds you into an engaged member of the team.
3. Role-Specific Onboarding Training
While company-wide onboarding provides universal basics, training customized to your department and position gets you ramped up faster.
Hands-on instruction specific to your tools, responsibilities, and workflows prevents you from having to figure out critical details alone. Tactics like job shadowing, short skills tests, and progress check-ins reinforce retention as you learn your role.
Mentorship from experienced employees in similar functions is incredibly valuable. They can explain day-to-day responsibilities and challenges you’ll encounter. You’ll gain practical perspective on how your role connects to the broader organization.
4. Cross-Team Collaboration
Successfully onboarding new hires takes coordinated efforts across departments. Here are key stakeholders that contribute:
- HR: Handles administrative tasks like paperwork, policies, equipment, and benefits education
- Hiring manager: Provides job training and team introductions
- Team members: Help acclimate you to workflows and standards
- Senior leaders: Share company vision and direction
Rather than siloed efforts, continual collaboration amongst these groups results in cohesive onboarding. It allows each member to play to their strengths while you get comprehensive support.
5. Logistics and Resource Provisioning
Nothing slows down a new employee’s productivity like lacking basic supplies, access, and information. Make sure they have what they need – both administrative and functional – before day one.
HR can handle some pre-boarding logistics like:
- Setting up email, computer, and software accounts
- Creating ID badges and system credentials
- Preparing your workspace with equipment
- Ordering necessary hardware like laptops
Other logistical best practices:
- Give an overview of company directories, databases, intranet, help desks, and other resources
- Provide guides for navigating the office, transportation options, dress code, and workplace etiquette
Having logistics ironed out means you can focus on substantive work rather than chasing down basics. It demonstrates the company’s eagerness to set you up for success.
6. Review of Internal Policies and Procedures
Each organization has protocols that maintain compliance, safety, security, and ethics. Human resources provides education on essential workplace policies and guidelines.
Common internal policies cover:
- Conduct and anti-discrimination
- Data protection and cybersecurity
- Compliance with regulations
- Expenses and travel
- Remote work and flexible scheduling
- Parental leave, sick days, and time off
Give new employees resources like handbooks detailing these policies. Ensure they know where to find full policy information and who to contact with questions. Setting clear expectations upfront prevents misunderstandings down the line.
7. Warm Welcome Rituals
First impressions speak volumes, so giving new hires a thoughtful welcome makes them feel valued from day one. Rituals like these boost onboarding experiences:
- Introductory meeting with leadership and onboarding team
- Office tour, team lunch, or happy hour
- Custom welcome swag like t-shirts or water bottles
- Paired mentorship with a seasoned employee
Schedule one-on-one introductions to key stakeholders like direct manager, senior leaders, and cross-functional partners. Welcome rituals give you exposure to the people vital to your success. They also humanize onboarding as an exciting celebration.
8. Structured Distribution of Paperwork
HR needs to facilitate completion of numerous legal, tax, and company documents. Rather than overwhelming new hires all at once, thoughtfully sequence paperwork.
Prioritize:
- Day one: Critical items like employment contracts, I-9, W-4, and confidentiality agreements
- Week one: Benefits selection, 401k enrollment, employee handbook
- Month one: Compliance policies, equity compensation, professional development planning
Space out less urgent items. Provide assistance in understanding requirements. Following up ensures important forms are signed and submitted accurately.
Digitizing paperwork makes retrieval and tracking seamless. HR management systems centralize document storage for easy access.
9. Consistent Communication
Check in frequently with new employees to gather feedback on how onboarding is going. Pose open-ended questions through:
- 30 and 90 day surveys
- Regular one-on-one meetings
- Informal discussions and social events
Monitor new hire satisfaction, challenges, and remaining questions. Adjust onboarding accordingly to fill those gaps. This two-way communication shows you care about the experience and want to improve.
10. In-Person Office Tours
Though virtual onboarding is rising, visiting the office still helps envision the physical environment. Introductory walking tours showcase:
- Office layout and various departments
- Amenities like cafeteria, fitness center, and lounge
- Conference rooms, printers, and key resources
- Safety features and emergency resources
For remote workers, compile photos and videos of the office spaces. Remote onboarding can also provide guidance on ergonomic home office setup.
In-person field trips to satellite offices, plants, or stores offer exposure to those sites. These immersive experiences make the organization more tangible.
An engaging, thorough onboarding experience leads to greater new hire retention, productivity, and satisfaction. While each company’s needs differ, these 10 elements form the foundation.
Onboarding done right welcomes new hires and equips them with the tools, knowledge, connections, and resources to excel in their roles. That leads to more engaged, empowered teams that drive the organization forward.
So as you start your new job journey, look for onboarding that moves beyond basics. You want robust training, strategic connections, and an experience personalized to your needs. With the right onboarding as your springboard, you’ll be set up for onboarding success.
