New Employee Orientation
A few months ago, my son called to inform me that he had accepted a new position with a different company. He was so excited about his new opportunity and anxious to start his new job. As his first day arrived, I couldn’t help but think about him all day and wonder how things were going. When he called me that evening, I could tell immediately that his day had not gone Well. As our conversation went on, I learned that his new company had not prepared for his arrival. His paperwork wasn’t ready, they had no plan for training him, he had no assignments and they didn’t even have a place for him to sit. In fact, they excused him early. This eager young man left his first day on the new job feeling deflated, unwelcomed and undervalued.
This is precisely why solid orientation programs are so critical. Imagine being invited to a dinner party and upon arrival, they did not have any refreshments, the food wasn’t prepared and there was no place for you at the dinner table. Being unprepared for new hires makes them feel just like a dinner guest without a seat at the dinner table.
Businesses need to remember that the initial days surrounding the orientation and training of a new employee are some of the most important days of their career. New employees are excited, nervous and a bit apprehensive. It is imperative that they feel comfortable, welcomed and a part of the team. Getting a new employee off to a good start requires preparation.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare an orientation program for your new employee:
- Create an agenda for the entire first day.
- Educate them on the company’s history, mission and benefits.
- Ensure their paperwork is ready to go and have someone who can walk them through it.
- Have their business cards printed and ready for them on their first day.
- Make certain their workspace is clean and ready for them, including their name plate.
- Provide them with a key or security card for the building.
- Introduce them to all employees and show them around the company.
- Update them on policies, procedures and the culture of the company.
- Dedicate someone to be their “go to person” over the first few weeks of their employment.
- Supply them with an outline of the training process/program.
- Take them to lunch on their first day.
- Assign them a project/assignment on their first day so they can immediately feel like they are making a contribution.
- Give them a company shirt, hat, mug or some small token that will help them feel part of the company.
A well thought out orientation process solidifies the relationship between the new employee and the organization. It fuels enthusiasm, a positive attitude and a quicker adjustment to the work environment. The first impression sets the tone, so attention to those first days, weeks and even months. Make it a welcoming, warm and educational start to their career at your organization.
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