29 January 2025
We’ve all had our share of onboarding experiences, whether they’re good, bad, or somewhere in between. While it can be all too common to share some not-so-pleasant experiences when it comes to being onboarded for a new job, we wanted to do the opposite and share tips on what makes a great onboarding experience instead!
We asked our team of HR Partners for their tried and true tips when it comes to what makes a great onboarding experience for new team members and employers/managers alike. Read on below:
HR Partner Jac’s reminder might seem like a commonsense one at first blush, but is nevertheless and important (dare we say crucial?) one.
Having a checklist at hand before the onboarding process even starts is a good way to see if you’ve got everything in place for your new starter…and if you don’t, lets you know what you should have in place. Once you have a checklist, you can refer to it and ensure all requirements are met in the legal and regulatory aspects. It also lets you standardise the process for all new hires, regardless of the manager handling the onboarding process.
Checklists also let you structure onboarding plans, as well as show new team members that they have a roadmap they can also refer to as they’re being inducted into the company.
Our Director of Operations, Renee, strongly encourages all businesses to have an employee handbook.
“All businesses need to have a simplistic, but robust, employee handbook. It’s really the bible of all people matters for a business and it sets the tone, expectations, and boundaries of the employment relationship from day one,” she says. And what better opportunity to discuss the employee handbook than the onboarding process?
Employee handbooks are the guide to everything your company stands for, and contains policies, procedures, and expectations of team members. Going through the employee handbook as part of the onboarding process is a great way to introduce new team members to the company’s culture, as well as help them get familiarised with all the policies and rules they need to be aware of.
Find out the top 3 reasons businesses need an employee handbook in our article.
According to HR Partner Belinda, an overlooked part of the onboarding experience is the tech setup. Getting all the tech work done before a new starter comes on board helps both the new employee and their manager start off smoothly and minimises any downtime.
This involves having their computer set up, along with their email, and any software accounts they need access to. Going back to our first point, this is where an onboarding list will also be helpful. If you don’t have it yet, now is a good time to add a section on tech and how it’s set up to the onboarding list. Make sure to include details about any third-party contacts like your IT company if needed.
As HR Business Partner Sarah says, “All businesses need to have a considered and considerate onboarding framework. Onboarding is essential for setting the tone for the employee relationship and for setting employees up for success.”
What does the onboarding experience look like at your organisation? Nothing says “Welcome to the team” more effectively than an onboarding program that’s tailored to your company’s culture and your new employee’s needs. If you want advice on how to do just that, feel free to contact our team or drop us a line at [email protected].
