A new hire’s first day is a great opportunity for organizations to validate their decision to join. It’s the perfect time to create an impact on your new, psyched employees. If you play your cards right, you can cement their loyalty to your organization. As a result, you won’t lose sleep over new employee turnover.
Here are seven small gestures that prove you’re the best employer they’ll ever get the chance to work with.
#1) Let Your Team Know Someone’s Coming
Involving existing employees allows them to be prepared to guide their new teammate. Therefore, you can spread out training duties to not burden a single resource. This is especially important if you plan on having the new hire shadow others in your department. The process will flow smoothly and your new employee won’t feel as if they’re disrupting others’ routines.
#2) Start a New Hire’s First Day a Little Later than Usual
Instead of having your newest employee come in at 9am sharp, ask them to drop by a little later. This will give you some time to have your coffee, get through your emails, and check that everything is in place. As a result, you’ll be able to provide your full attention, help with the paperwork, and introduce them around.
#3) Be Particular During Introductions
Introduce yourself and others properly rather than parading new hires around. The best way around this is to share a little background. In addition to names, explain your team members’ roles in your organization. Similarly, introduce your new hire by highlighting their strengths and the value they bring to your organization. Doing so indicates that you took the time to learn more about them. Plus, hearing how highly you regard them will motivate them. As a result, they’ll become immediately involved and grow integrated with the rest of the team.
#4) Avoid Sensory Overload
Very few people get a good night’s sleep before their first day at a new job. Therefore, you may want to avoid directing a lot of information towards your new employee off the bat. Keep their first day light. Even if you already told them that their job will entail long, grueling hours, kick them out of the office by 5 p.m. Just be clear about your stance beforehand. Explain that you’re giving them the time to reflect and recharge so that you don’t overload them.
#5) Check that Your New Hire’s Office Space is Ready
Nothing can affect your company’s reputation as being unprepared for your new hires. Long before their first day, you need to make sure that their workspace is prepared. All the tools they need should be ready to go. Before your new hire arrives, take a look at their office space and make sure that everything is functioning as smoothly as expected.
#6) Get Paperwork Out of the Way Quickly and Early
Paperwork is still one of the most important aspects of the onboarding process. If you haven’t gone paperless with automated and mobile employee onboarding, make sure that this phase is quick and easy. Your goal is to get the paperwork out of the way early to prevent new hires from wasting time on forms.
#7) Give Your New Hires the Chance to Provide Feedback
As their first day comes to an end, prompt new hires for feedback on their day. Ask about how everything went and whether they have any questions. Especially inquire about any current or future concerns they have. Getting these out of the way early on will prevent them from leaving your organization and contributing to its turnover rate.
In addition to these seven tips, remember to be firm yet considerate. You need to show the latest addition to your workforce that you mean business but are kind and reasonable. That way, you’ll win them over and ensure their loyalty in the long run.
