November 2019
How to Successfully Onboard a New Employee
An onboarding process doesn’t begin and end with your new employee’s first day within your office. When hiring within procurement and supply chain sector, it’s essential that you create a thorough onboarding process which will help your new hires quickly integrate within your company and start their work confidently and productively.
A truly successful onboarding process can take up to a year, gathering feedback from the employee which can help you optimize both your onboarding process and your company culture.
Here’s what to do ahead of and after your employee’s first day, to ensure the onboarding process is a success:
A successful onboarding process will begin before your new hire has walked through the door. Make sure the following have been considered before your new hire arrives at their desk:
- Create your new hire’s accounts on email, communication apps and software
- Ensure the employee has access to information such as Wi-Fi and key contacts
- Schedule introductions to the new hire across your company
- Tick off practical tasks such as desk set up and building access cards
Your employee’s first day will likely not involve much work, but instead immersing your new team member within your processes and culture. A first day will typically include:
- An initial welcome, including a building show around
- Welcome meeting with a direct line manager about goals, duties and team structure
- A welcome lunch with co-workers to start team integration
- A brief for a first assignment or project
The first week is crucial for your new employee to get a grasp of expectations and start to feel comfortable with their job. Their first week should include:
- First week meeting to check in and answer any questions
- Set clear objectives and goals for the first three to six months
- Arrange regular one-to-one meetings to check in on your new employee
As your new employee settles into the role, you should aim to complete the following in the first month:
- Discuss long-term goals of what you would like them to achieve
- Run through essential training and deadlines for completion
- Create a career development plan
- Arrange a team social event
After the first couple of months of employment, it’s important to begin reviewing your onboarding process. Collect feedback from your new hire on their experience so you can further optimize your process for future hires.