In the fast-paced work environment today, on boarding is easier said than done. But all the effort you invest in the process is worthwhile, considering that an effective process assures productivity and boosts retention. Successful on boarding programs do a lot, from educating new recruits to engaging them, ensuring compliance and boosting your business. They make new employees aware and informed about how things work in your setup, which helps them to be more confident. But there are several challenges that lie in the path of creating such a program. Being aware of these challenges and their solutions definitely helps you do things better. Let us highlight them for you.
Challenge #1: Overloading information on the first day
Every new hire is bound to feel nervous on their first day. The new place and environment makes them jittery as they don’t know what to expect. Learning new processes and filling out the onboarding paperwork are some other stress factors they may encounter. Most of the employees feel apprehensive about aligning with the new team. Considering these concerns, your process can get flawed if it overloads the employee on day 1 itself.
Solution: There are some simple things you can do to dodge this challenge. For example, automating the paperwork makes the process simpler and less time-intensive. It eases the pressure of filling out the forms accurately and quickly as employees get the option to do it at any time, from anywhere and via any device. An electronic solution is beneficial for the company as well because it simplifies the record-keeping process.
Challenge #2: Not prioritizing new hire onboarding
Often, businesses try to skimp on the onboarding process so that they can get the new resource to work straightaway. Even if they have a process in place, it may be something that they have been using for years. Running an outdated outsourcing process is as bad as not having one at all. It gets across a poor impression on the recruits and may even lead to high abandonment. They end up feeling aloof and may even drop the idea of working with you.
Solution: Without any doubt, having an employee-oriented onboarding program is indispensable for any business that wants to get and retain the best talent. Automating the program with a software that streamlines operations is a great idea. Not only will this make things simpler for your HR managers but also increase the engagement of the new hires. Additionally, it can make the process faster and save time for the employees as well as recruiters.
Challenge #3: Assuming that a great onboarding process has you covered
You may believe that a great onboarding process ensures that the employee will stay with you forever. After all the hard work you invest in creating a program that is educating, engaging and creative, you will expect it to deliver great results. But the real challenge lies in keeping the employees engaged for the long run and not just the first day. And this is not something you can leave only to your onboarding program.
Solution: The one and only way to address this challenge is by creating a holistic HR process, which goes just beyond getting the employees on board when they join the organization. Rather, it should involve education, training and feedback all through their work life with your company. Virtual training applications do the trick because it has the potential to engage the learners. Further, take initiative for regular touch-base meetings with the employees so that they feel connected and cared for.
Challenge #4: Failing to pay attention to detail
Another challenge that organizations fail to take seriously is not paying attention to small details that matter. It is your responsibility to make the new hire comfortable on the first day. They won’t feel great if things are not set up for them on day one. These include the key stuff such as their ID badge, network access, workstation material and any tools they need to get started with work.
Solution: Having a standard first-day checklist for every position in your organization is the best way to resolve this challenge. Share the checklist with the relevant team leaders and elicit their help in setting everything up for the new employee. Also, seek feedback and suggestions on the list from your team to ensure that it covers everything new hires may need.
Besides working seriously on these challenges and solutions, you need to go the extra mile to make the new hire feel like a part of your organization. Remember that a human approach and focus on relationships is as important as the technical aspects of onboarding.
