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Do you remember your last first day at a new job? You probably felt nervous and awkward, like the new kid at school. If your employer ensured that your first day went smoothly and was enjoyable, you are lucky. Far too often, this is not the case.
When an employee’s initial experience with a new job is poor, it yields disastrous results. These statistics, shared by Christine Marino, demonstrate the importance of making a great first impression on new hires…
- “New employees decide within the first 30 days whether they feel welcome in the organization.”
- About 4% of new employees leave their new jobs after a bad first day.
- Many new employees quit their jobs within the first 6 months.
- “1 in 25 people leave a new job just because of a poor (or no) onboarding program.”
Try These Unique Onboarding Tips
In light of the facts mentioned above, it’s vital that employers create effective onboarding programs that give employees a good start. Here are a few ways to craft an onboarding program that impresses, educates, and welcomes new workers:
“Assign” a new hire to a trusted employee
The buddy system is not just for school children; it can be helpful in the workplace, as well. Using Onboarding to Impress New Hires Now and Retain Them Later states, “Pair your new hire with a more established team member. Chances are, your new employee will appreciate having a go-to person for questions and tips, and the slightly less overwhelming chance to learn from someone who is not their boss. It’ll make them feel more comfortable and help them get to know…the company’s operations and culture. And it could forge new friendships.”
Celebrate brand new workers
Smart employers understand the power of celebration. They know that when people feel appreciated and special, they perform better. Employers can create a workplace culture of celebration by decorating an employee’s workspace for his or her first day on the job and sending company-wide, new hire-announcement emails that include photos and bios.
Help new employees get to know their peers
In his article 5 Ways to Make New Employees Feel Welcome, Harvey Deutschendorf suggested that employers should provide new hires with a collage of all immediate staff. He mentioned that most people worry about getting to know their peers and remember their names. Deutschendorf wrote, “Instead of handing (a new employee) a sterile organizational chart with names and titles, how about a collage with photos and personal information of the staff the newbie will be working with? This could include photos of supervisors, coworkers, and some information on their personal lives such as family, pets, hobbies, favorite travel destinations, or favorite sayings—whatever the employee felt comfortable sharing.”
The manner in which employees are brought on board a company has much to do with their ultimate success or failure. With a little creativity and effort, employers can make new hires’ first few days at work as easy and enjoyable as possible, increasing the likelihood of employee retention.
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