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As an organization, you invest a lot of time and effort in attracting new talent. New staff who fit perfectly into your organization and can help your company grow. But the recruitment process is only a small part of the ‘war for talent’; good onboarding is just as important.
Retaining talent is just as important as attracting new talent; after all, you don’t want that new employee to quit after just a few months. Good onboarding of a new employee can help your new talent feel at home faster and can be the start of a productive, positive, and long-term working relationship.
New employees want to quickly feel that they truly belong to the company culture, that they have a network to rely on, and don’t have to figure everything out on their own. Personal onboarding leads to efficient, quickly trained, and above all, happy newcomers.
What makes good onboarding?
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Starting early is half the battle:
Don’t wait until the first workday to connect with your new employee. Usually, some time passes between signing the contract and the first day. Your new employee can’t wait to start, so it’s important to keep in regular contact to further fuel this enthusiasm. Therefore, get in touch before the first day to discuss practical matters and address any concerns.
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Appoint a mentor:
A mentor can provide the newcomer with support and the feeling of having someone to rely on. The mentor can guide the new employee through how the company works, helping your newcomer quickly build enough confidence to work independently. Choose an experienced, positive mentor to immediately take your newcomer under their wing.
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Arrange the practical matters:
This may seem like the most obvious tip, but things still often go wrong here. Nothing is more frustrating than arriving on your first day and realizing your access badge hasn’t been arranged, you don’t have a computer, and your desk is still cluttered with junk. This definitely doesn’t make the new employee feel welcome and leaves a poor first impression of how the company operates.
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Create an onboarding program:
Choose someone from the team to welcome the employee and guide them through the most basic things (where to find the restrooms, where the dining hall is, a brief introduction to the team, a short tour of the office, etc.). Have a first cup of coffee (or tea, of course) together with a chat! Schedule some introductory meetings and arrange a welcome lunch with the whole team. And last but not least, choose a welcome gift to make your new employee feel completely at home.
5 tips for an unforgettable onboarding gift
A welcome gift is becoming increasingly common to welcome new employees and help them feel they belong faster. Now that many people work from home, a well-thought-out gift for onboarding a new employee has become even more important. That’s why we gladly give you 5 tips to make your onboarding box unique and unforgettable:
- Personal:
Never underestimate the impact of a personalized gift with a handwritten welcome note from the new colleagues. A small gesture that takes little effort but can have a big effect. Right when opening the box, the new employee feels welcome, appreciated, and expected.
- Branded:
Your new employee is eager to get started and proud of his or her new employer. No better way to connect with your new employee and at the same time nurture that pride than by offering a branded gift. This can be a branded hoodie with the company logo, but also handy tools that make daily work life easier like a power bank, a smartphone holder, trendy earbuds, ...
- Original:
Avoid clichés and well-trodden paths and think ‘out-of-the-box’ (pun intended). Everyone has received pens and notebooks often enough. Give something your newcomer will really appreciate and be happy with. Think, for example, of an educational book for a smooth start, a relaxing scented candle, seeds for a fresh desk plant, ...
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Ensure connection:
Especially in these times when we mostly work from home, it is extra important to make your new employee feel at home in the team. Therefore, organize activities to welcome them remotely. For example, hold a digital aperitif with the whole team and send your newcomer a personal invitation, a bottle of gin from a local vendor and some healthy snacks included.
- Healthy:
Let your newcomers know that you care about their health by offering them healthy snacks in their box. JustBite can help you make onboarding unforgettable by focusing on healthy onboarding boxes. Fully in the style of your company and with a healthy and tasty tailored content. To dive in together with lots of energy.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression to make, make the first impression of your company as an employer unique and unforgettable with a good onboarding!