5 simple ways to make your new hire feel welcome
When it comes to an employer making a good impression on a new employee, the first few days are crucial. But many onboarding programs can still come across as an afterthought.
The good news is, you don’t have to revamp your entire onboarding process to make a new hire feel welcome.
Chris Ronzio, creator of onboarding simplification tool Trainual, shared five simple ways employers can get off on the right foot with their new employees.
1. Announce their arrival
Even before their first day, you can get the new hire and your other employees excited about it. Send an email to your staff about the new person, and encourage everyone to reply and say hello. A few messages from staff members will make the new hire feel like a welcome member of the team instead of the new kid at school.
2. Come bearing gifts
Nothing will make a new person feel like they fit in like some branded merchandise. Simple things like t-shirts or water bottles bearing the company logo can make a new hire feel like they belong. Plus, any kind of gift is a fun surprise on an anxious employee’s first day.
3. Brush up on your history
Hearing about how the company got its start and what its values are is crucial for a new hire. Not only will this help them get the gist of the culture and work environment, but it will make their work more meaningful if they fully understand the purpose behind it.
4. Explain how everything works
Enhance a new hire’s understanding even more by explaining the company’s processes and what everyone does. This will help them see the big picture and understand how each department works together.
5. Set expectations
It’s important for the new hire to understand where they are in the onboarding or training process. Are they expected to be ready to get to work in a few days, or a few weeks? How long until their training is officially complete? Letting the new employee know where they stand throughout the process will help them get up to speed comfortably.