Onboarding

    What is onboarding?

    Onboarding is the process of integrating a new employee into your company. It entails teaching the employee about the company culture and bringing them into the fold on organisational activities.

    The onboarding process can include providing them with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to be productive and be integrate with other members of the team. A good onboarding process helps your new employee to acclimate to their job duties quickly, align with the organisation’s goals and values, and build relationships with their new colleagues.

    Onboarding new employees with a structured and thoughtful onboarding process can help with employee engagement, employee retention, and their productivity over time.

    What Is the Employee Onboarding Process?

    The onboarding processes vary depending on the organisation, but there are a few things that are key and typical across a number of companies in order to help your new hires feel welcomed and capable in their new role. The onboarding program can include:

    Orientation

    As a part of the onboarding process, an employee orientation involves giving new employees an introduction to the company culture, the mission, history, organisational structure, the employee handbook and the company policies and values. This will likely be carried out by their manager and include a welcome session from a member of senior leadership, a tour of the facilities, and the relevant new hire forms and handbooks required.

    Training and Development

    This involves equipping new employees with knowledge and skills required to effectively do their job duties. This could be anything from job specific training, developing technical skills, and helping them to develop an understanding and fluency in the company processes, systems, and tools.

    Role Clarity

    Defining a new employee’s role clearly from the outset is crucial for their success in their new role. Whilst roles may change and become more fluid over time, a clearly defined role from the outset can only help them to understand how they need to grow into their role as they get more familiar with their role. Defining the role can include information such as their schedule and job duties, performance expectations, and their objectives for the next quarter.

    Mentorship and Support

    As a part of the onboarding process, it may be wise to pair your new hire with an existing team member to help them throughout the process. They can provide support, guidance and advice as they begin settling into their role. A mentor can help define a positive onboarding experience and help new team members feel like they are actually a part of a team.

    Socialisation and Networking

    A good employee experience with the onboarding process means that a new team member is successfully integrated with other members of the team. It’s important to build a space for onboarding employees to be able to connect socially with their new colleagues.

    How can onboarding software streamline onboarding?

    Employee onboarding software can be used to ease the employee onboarding process. Software such as the Eclipse Core can help create a seamless onboarding process in several ways:

    • Automates and streamlines the onboarding process to save time for HR professionals and managers

    • Creates an onboarding checklist to ensure that all onboarding tasks are completed

    • Ensures a standardised and effective onboarding process for all new hires

    • Makes sure that no new hire paperwork is missed to ensure proper legal and regulatory requirements

    • Can tailor the onboarding process to meet the specific needs of each individual both in terms of role and department