A Successful On Boarding Program to Prevent New Hires from Jumping Ship

As the economy continues on an up swing, organizations will be busy trying to find the perfect employee to fill the gaps needed to fuel their growing business needs. Finding a qualified employee is one thing but keeping them is a whole new ball game.

An effective on boarding program is necessary for ensuring that your new hire is here to stay. Not only does it get them off to a solid start, it demonstrates what they can expect from the organization in years to come and what is expected of them. It provides the foundation from which a new employee can flourish.

Key components of an effective on boarding program include:

Introductions…

Often employees are nervous on their first day, so why not provide that opportunity to get to know others by walking the new hire around the department and introducing him/her to his/her new colleagues. By breaking the ice and taking that first step relationships are more easily form.

Be Prepared

As a Manager, coordinate an orientation and training before hand whether with HR or hosted by you. The last thing you want to demonstrate is a company that is not organized. Have the IT Department set up email, and computer privileges and a desk well in advance so the new hire feels that they have a place from Day 1.

Open Door Policy

Encourage your new hire to ask questions by emphasizing your organization’s open door policy. By providing new hires with a venue to ask without feeling like they are a burden; they are likely to feel at home quicker and take pride in their new role early on.

Time for Lunch

Your new employee, tray in hand, walks into the busy cafeteria looking for somewhere to sit. Sounds like dreaded first day of high school. Instead make it mandatory that the Manager (or team member) is responsible for taking new hires out for lunch on their first day. Welcoming your new team member in a relaxed environment outside of the office may allow him/her to feel more at ease in their new position..

With the unemployment rates on the decline and as more companies begin to hire, top notch qualified candidates will become few and far between. To ensure that your organization is able to hold on to its star new hires it’s imperative that you have an effective on boarding program in place from the start. New hires need to feel that they belong or else they will not stick around. Making them aware that they are a critical member of the team by demonstrating how they fit into the puzzle will give them purpose and a sense of direction. With these critical steps in place, the foundation has been set for your new hire to develop their career. Who knows…he/she just may turn out to be a future CEO.