It’s all well and good developing a career path for employees, but they will never be able to begin walking this path unless they can settle into your company as quickly as possible. As a manager, the responsibility for this falls to you, and you need to ensure new hires can feel comfortable even before they walk through the door on their first day.Â
Send a Preparation Email
You want your new employees to arrive with all the knowledge they can have, and a preparation email will let them know exactly what to expect on their first day and beyond. You can use this email to provide an Information Pack with confirmation regarding payment, vacation time, and insurance details, but you can also include details about the dress code and any specific policies your company has. These policies might include Summer Working hours, your approach to flexible remote working or and even team building activities you think they should know about so they can get ready for such events.Â
Make Them Feel Comfortable When They Arrive
Everyone can feel slightly intimidated when entering a new environment, so it’s up to you to make them feel welcome as soon as they arrive. You can tell your assistant you’re expecting a new hire to arrive so they can get a drink ready for them. It’s also a good idea to inform the rest of your team so they know to say hello when they see a new face. Some offices or workplaces can seem a little cliquey when a new employee first arrives, so advising everyone to make them feel as comfortable as possible will help them feel at home.Â
Use a Comprehensive Training Program
As talented as your new hire might be, they still need some training so they know how everything works around your workplace. Before bringing them into the office, it’s vital to develop a comprehensive training program that shows them precisely how things work. Doing so – and allowing them to reference it when needed – will cut down on the number of mistakes that inexperienced employees are bound to make. This will give them the tools and the confidence to excel in their new position and prevent potentially damaging downtime if you or other members of your team need to clean up after them.Â
Check-In On Them Regularly
The modern workplace generally follows an open plan layout, so new employees won’t feel trapped and isolated in a cubicle or office. This will allow them to chat with coworkers and get confirmation about specific procedures quickly. However, if everyone is busy, they might not feel like they can ask questions. As the manager, it’s important to check in with them regularly, especially during their first day or first week on the job. This will give them the chance to pass on any concerns or uncertainties and allow the both of you to work things out.Â
Give Them Someone to Work With
The idea of an onboarding buddy might sound a little too elementary school, but it can massively benefit your new hire and contribute to a positive working environment. Getting an experienced team member to work with them and help them navigate their first week at the office will help them learn the ins and outs of your business. More importantly, though, it will give them a way to feel more comfortable around their new coworkers and get to know them better, which will do wonders for team building and help them integrate around the office as they engage with other members of your team as the weeks and months progress.Â
Help Them Find Somewhere to Live
If your new hire has moved to a new city, the last thing they want is to deal with the stress of finding a place to live. To overcome this, you can ask your assistant or HR team to help them find somewhere to stay, whether this is a hotel, or look for ideal studio apartments for rent close to the office. This needn’t be a permanent solution, but it will give them a base that feels like theirs while they get used to the new environment.Â
Welcome
Helping employees settle in will ensure they hit the ground running and can immediately start making the impact you hoped they would when you hired them. Whether it’s as simple as letting them know what to expect or helping them find a place to call home – even if it’s just for a few weeks – they will feel more comfortable in their new career.Â
Picture source: unsplash.com
HR Future Staff Writer, UK
