Did you know that 33% of new hires look for a job within their first six months?

As a Recruitment Consultant, I'm responsible for recruiting approximately 50 people every year. There is nothing more frustrating than spending weeks or even months of searching for a great candidate to fill a key role, only to find that person either doesn't perform, OR resigns within the first 6 months.

I've decided to delve deeper into this topic and have collected feedback from several candidates, as well as clients. Surprisingly, this is what I discovered…

New employees didn't have a great onboarding experience. 

Did you also know that 22% of staff turnover occurs in the first 45 days of employment? (Bersin). The truth is, this is mostly an outcome of poor onboarding.

Such a simple thing can be easily overlooked, but it can also be a powerful driver of individual, team and company performance.

Here are my onboarding tips to win over your new hires…

1. Prior to the start date

Your candidate has accepted the role and signed the contract – this is when they'll be most excited! Pre-start date activities are essential for validating their decision, so it's important to keep in regular contact with them. Send any paperwork that can be completed ahead of the start date, and include them in emails so they can get familiar with the business.

Don't forget to announce it to the rest of the team! Explain who the new hire is, their background and why they were hired - this will help other colleagues understand how they can connect.

You could even send them a welcome video where you talk about your company vision and getting to know the team including favourite sports teams, movies, what they love about working there… Give them a feel for the culture!

2. First day

Instead of filling out tedious forms, your new staff member should be connecting with their new team and key stakeholders. Why not host a morning tea or lunchtime gathering? This will show them they're part of the team and how important they are to the business.

It's always a nice gesture for hiring managers to personally greet their new employees at reception, given the recruitment process was spent getting to know each other. You could even provide a welcome gift - something as simple as a personally written card welcoming them aboard.

3. Rules of Engagement

Whether the new hire has years of experience or they're new to the workforce, you must spend time explaining the rules of engagement, otherwise known as the corporate and team etiquette that ensures success. It's easy to assume they already know or will work it out with time, but you have to think of them as a blank canvas and explain everything from the outset.

It might sound time-consuming but will save you a lot of headaches and miscommunication in the long run. Topics might include the cadence of meetings, decision-making, challenging issues or company jargon.

4. Check-in regularly

Thorough onboarding should be at least a 1-3 month's process. Set up reminders to check-in with your new employees at the following milestones: 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months. You could arrange a catch up over coffee to discuss how they're finding the role and settling in, in a not-so-formal way.

This should be in addition to regular performance catch ups where you can discuss the employee's contribution and any questions they have.

5. Cultural integration (FUN!)

Remember, it's not just about getting computers and log in details set up! The entire process should enable the employee to understand in-depth, as well as align with the organisation's culture and common goals.

Bringing on new team members gives you an opportunity to show them how they can get involved in life outside of the office, and have fun together in the process! It's never too early to start cultivating a winning relationship that will make for a winning team.

Do you have any other tips for providing a great new hire experience? I would love to hear your thoughts, Contact me on 03 8606 0397.