Onboarding is a key process for businesses. It makes it possible to welcome and integrate new employees. It can have a significant impact on their engagement, their productivity and especially their retention. In the event of a failed onboarding, the consequences can be significant: this can lead to the premature departure of the new employee. Here we will define onboarding and all that it involves, and then assist you in successfully integrating your new hires, step by step.
What is onboarding?
The onboarding process refers to all the actions implemented by a company to ensure the proper integration of newcomers.
The aim of onboarding is to welcome talent in the best possible way, so that they feel good and become autonomous as soon as possible. When it is successful, it allows a rapid increase in skills, which makes employees productive in a short time.
Why is onboarding so important?
If it is so essential to set up a genuine onboarding process, it is because the way in which you integrate an employee into your workforce is decisive for the success of the collaboration. This in fact affects:
- Productivity. Onboarding should allow the newcomer to be 100% operational as quickly as possible. Training is part of the process, but it's not enough. Knowing how the company works, knowing who to contact, and understanding decision-making mechanisms helps employees to quickly develop their skills.
- Turnover. An onboarding that goes poorly can lead to a premature departure of the employee. You then have to start the whole recruitment process all over again, which takes time and requires resources. In the worst case, the company may even experience the phenomenon of “ghosting”, which consists in a candidate giving no sign of life after accepting a job offer.
- The employer brand. How you onboard your candidates can have an impact on the company's image. Indeed, the impression of new recruits during their hiring process and in the first months of taking up a position is decisive. It is very likely that they will talk about their experience around them. It's better if it's in positive terms.
The benefits of successful onboarding are very important: it should therefore not be overlooked.
Download our infographic on the feeling of belonging in business!
Explore the key factors and impacts of a strong sense of belonging within your organization with our dedicated infographic.
🤝 What you will discover:
- The essentials for cultivating a strong sense of belonging
- The benefits for employee engagement and retention
- Practical strategies to strengthen cohesion and well-being at work
Don't miss this opportunity to create an environment where each member of your team feels truly integrated and valued!
👉 Download now to get valuable insights into the sense of belonging in business!
The onboarding steps
Successful onboarding is not limited to organizing a breakfast with the team on the day a new employee arrives. In fact, it is a process that starts long before that, and continues for several months after taking office. Here are the three key moments of onboarding and what you need to do.
1. Pre-boarding
Pre-boarding is the period that begins with the acceptance of the employee's job offer. It ends when he arrives at the company. Between these two moments, it can take several weeks or even several months. It is essential to create a connection during this moment.
You can take advantage of this interval to check in on a regular basis with your new hire, or to start sending them information about the company. You can also invite her to events organized so that she can meet her future co-workers in an informal setting. Thus, the newcomer can begin to integrate into his new team.
Pre-boarding is also a good time to prepare for arrival administratively: drafting the employment contract, ordering the entry badge, creating an email address, etc. It is also important to anticipate material needs: workspace, computer, storage, etc. All this must be done before arrival to prevent your talent from feeling uncomfortable on the first day. It also gives the image of a disorganized company.
Finally, don't forget to let the teams know if a new person is coming soon. Clearly detail its role and missions so that everyone is up to date. The aim is to present this talent as a teammate: this prevents him from being considered as a future competitor.
2. The arrival in the workforce
The first day is always a defining moment. It is therefore essential to prepare a program for your new talent. It may include:
- A site visit.
- A friendly breakfast with the whole team.
- A presentation of the general functioning of the company.
- Exchanges with the manager.
- The delivery of equipment and possibly documentation useful for the employee's career.
Remember that the first impression is often remembered, so it is important that the first contacts go well.
3. Follow-up and skills development
Once the first few days are over, most businesses relax their onboarding efforts. However, it is absolutely necessary to continue working on integration.
To do this, ensure regular follow-up with the employee. Organize points, first every week and then every month, so that he can give you feedback and ask you questions. It's important to take that time and show your new hire that you value their well-being. Frequent discussions with the manager are also essential.
The aim of this follow-up is to be able to detect as quickly as possible any blocking issue for the new employee, and to resolve it just as quickly as possible. If you don't have information about the person's problems, there's no way you can fix them. This can lead to premature resignation, which can have major consequences for the company.
The end of the trial period is often an important moment for both the employee and the company. It shows mutual trust. Do not relax all your efforts at this time: it is essential to continue to follow the evolution of your talent and to support it in its development of skills.
Finally, do not hesitate to ask for a surprise report concerning the onboarding process. This allows you to gather valuable information about how this process was experienced. By analyzing all the surprise reports, the company can improve its onboarding.
You now have all the cards in hand to successfully onboarding your future employees. This is a crucial element for the successful integration of an employee into the workforce and has significant consequences on employee productivity, engagement and retention. To be successful, the process must begin as soon as the job offer is accepted and last several months after taking up the position. By providing a good onboarding experience for new employees, businesses can create a positive work environment that promotes The collaboration, innovation and growth.
Sommaire
