Hiring is not an easy process. It’s time consuming, stressful, and can leave a business at a temporary standstill until the right person is hired. After clearing those hurdles, it’s time to sit back and celebrate, right? Not so fast. Hiring the so-called right person and then leaving them to “figure it out” can get a business back in the same spot fast, looking for the next “right” employee.
Don’t Let Hiring Become a Cyclical Process
New hires, particularly those who work with a recruiter, complete a thorough pre-screening process designed to find the best fit for the skills and environment needed by the company while meeting the skills and expectations of the new hire. Onboarding is the best way for new employees to learn the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviors to make them an asset to the business. Without these, an employee is left to figure out things on their own. This not only slows down the employee but could place a damper on the business as a whole.
The Benefits of a Friendly Face
Starting a new job is akin to being the new kid in school. In addition to the excitement of securing a new position, there also comes an understandable level of stress and anxiety. These feelings are normal and are a good indication that the employee is looking to make a positive contribution to the organization with their skill set. Helping new employees make the transition from newbie to employee asset is easier than you might think with a reliable onboarding process.
Onboarding sets the stage for acknowledging the presence of the new employee, creates a repeatable list of standard processes for introducing employees to a new role, and shows how the company does business. As part of the onboarding process, consider designating a number of employees to demonstrate how particular areas of the business function. This not only provides education, it also presents the employee with people to whom they can ask questions.
Onboarding Benefits to the Bottom Line
- Increased ROI
- Greater contributions from the employee in terms of work and culture
- Improved interactions between employees from different departments
- Engagement in the company’s mission and culture
- Better staff retention and less turnover
- Heightened productivity
Making a commitment to a dedicated onboarding plan not only benefits new employees, it also helps current staff. Over time, the sharing and demonstration of the company’s values help solidify relevant messages in terms of the business mission and culture. This level of continuity is important in not only establishing job satisfaction but preventing expensive employee turnover in the future.
As a top Kansas City recruiting firm since 1988, Austin Nichols Technical Search has served clients in a variety of fields. Austin Nichols specializes in direct hire and contract recruiting for manufacturing, construction, engineering, and technical positions.
