5 Effective Onboarding Must-Dos

Getting a new job is like being introduced into a new family. New hires have chosen your company and have committed to spending their days at your office, surrounded by the members of your team. Just as with any person they’ll be working with, they need to be introduced to the company.

I think that a company’s culture is like its personality. That’s why hiring for culture fit is so important. Because just as with any two coworkers, your new hire is essentially working with your company. As with any two people to connect, new hires need to connect with your company in the same way.

Nearly a year ago, Lessonly and BambooHR released our “New Employee Checklist Builder” so that anyone can customize an onboarding checklist. Many, many people from companies all over have been using the checklist to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Using the checklists these users have created, we dug into the data to find out which tasks are most requested. And besides learning new hires’ names and relevant information (which frankly can be done prior to the first day on the job with the right HR software), the most commonly requested tasks have to do with introducing your company and their job function to new hires.

You want your employees to feel they should have been at your company all along. If you want new hires to have this type of onboarding experience, you cannot forget to cover these 5 onboarding must-dos:

1. What really makes your company tick

In short, you need to make sure your new hires understand the company’s mission and vision. Do they understand the values employees live by? This is a great time to introduce and really make sure your new hires “get” what your company is all about. New hires should see exactly how their job role fits into the company’s overall goals so they know they can make an impact.

2. Important policies and procedures

Wouldn’t it be nice if new friends came with a handbook? That way you’d know what’s expected and how you can thrive in the new environment. Many companies still provide a handbook (whether it’s paper or ebook doesn’t really matter) so that things are spelled out and easily digestible to new hires.

3. Who’s who

Employees need to be introduced to those they’ll often be working with. They need to meet and get direction from a manager or trainer so employees can get up to speed and productive quickly. These integral coworkers should be available to answer questions and give early feedback.

4. Outlined job description

Your new hires MUST know what is expected of them early on. Outlining the job and the expectations you have for them sets them up for success. Make sure these tasks align with the job description new hires were given during the interview phase.

5. Training and development plan

Onboarding is a great time to explain how your new hires will be trained and how that training will extend into their professional development. Again, early feedback is integral to guiding the new hire to know what’s the right way to be doing the job.

If you cover these onboarding principles, your employees will know they made the right decision in choosing your company. And if onboarding continues on past the first week or month, you’ll find greater ROI on your new hires and they’ll find more value in you.

Your Turn

Now you’re ready to create a customized onboarding checklist for your next hire that includes these important pieces of strategic onboarding. If you need some ideas, feel free to choose from this list 130 different tasks to find exactly what new hires need for your unique company. Happy onboarding!