5 Tips for Smoothly Onboarding New Hires

Finding the perfect candidate for a job is half the battle. Once you’ve discovered and signed them, companies must ensure they are onboarded successfully. Onboarding is the process of integrating new hires into an organization and helping them adapt to the company culture, processes, and their role. It’s a critical process that can influence the employee’s engagement, job satisfaction, and overall success in the company. Here are some tips for smoothly onboarding new hires, according to the experts at our recruitment agency.

 

Start Onboarding Process Early

The onboarding process should start before the employee even has their first day. Ensure that you have sent the new hire all the necessary paperwork and materials, such as the employee handbook, company policies, and job description ahead of time. It’s also essential to communicate with the new hire and establish expectations about their first day, what they need to bring, what they should wear, and any other information they should know. You want your new hire to feel comfortable and confident as they step into their new role.

 

Provide Comprehensive Orientation

Think of the hiring process as dating- both you and the candidates are getting to know one another. Orientation is like bringing your date home to meet the parents. It’s an introduction to your family and an important step. A comprehensive orientation program should cover the company’s history, mission, vision, values, and culture. It should also include an introduction to the company’s products and services and an overview of the department and team’s goals and objectives. This will help new hires understand how their role fits into the company’s bigger picture.

 

Assign Buddy or Mentor

Navigating a new company can be challenging, especially without someone there to specifically guide you. A buddy or mentor can help new hires integrate into the company’s culture and understand how things are done. The mentor can provide guidance on the new hire’s role, offer feedback, answer questions, and provide support throughout the onboarding process. Assigning a guide can also forge relationships between new and existing employees, making the transition smoother and making new hires feel more engrained in the company from the start.

 

Set Clear Goals and Expectations

No one wants to start a new job and immediately feel lost. It’s essential to set clear goals and expectations for new hires so they know what is expected of them. This includes specific objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and deadlines. By setting these expectations, new hires can understand how their role contributes to the company’s success and how they will be evaluated.

 

Provide Ongoing Training and Development

A good hire is one that is focused on the present but also the future. Recruiting is an expensive and time-consuming process, so you want to look for candidates that will be staying around for a while. Training and development are crucial for new hires to succeed in their role and grow within the company. Ensure that new hires receive the necessary training, both for their duties and any new technologies or processes. Also, provide opportunities for ongoing professional development, such as workshops, conferences, and mentoring programs. You want your new hires to not only feel like they are a part of the company but that they also have a future there.

 

Onboarding is a critical process for the success of new hires and the company. If your company is looking for help with recruitment and the hiring process, contact Nova Staffing today! Our team of hiring experts is here to help you find quality candidates and successfully onboard them.

 

6 Tips for Successfully Onboarding New Drivers

6 Tips for Successfully Onboarding New Drivers- Nova Staffing

The transportation industry played a vital role during the pandemic, and increased demand for delivery services has resulted in job growth in this sector. Grocery stores, restaurants, online retailers, and warehouses are all looking to hire qualified drivers in Canada right now. As your company expands, being able to quickly and successfully onboard new drivers will be essential to the success of your business. Here are a few simple tips to help you efficiently train new drivers.

 

Plan Orientation

One of the most common issues cited for driver turnover is lack of training and support. It’s essential to provide a structured orientation to smoothly onboard new drivers. It can be tempting to toss new employees into the deep end and hope they can figure it out, but even the most experienced drivers will need to be eased into a new company culture. Orientation is the perfect time to create a positive long-term impression for new hires so that they feel comfortable staying with your business. Most drivers will decide within the first 72 hours if they’ll stay with their new employer, so it is important to have a positive orientation experience.

 

Structure Training

Orientation is all about introducing new drivers to your company, but make sure you have formal training as well. Every company does things differently so even the most qualified drivers will still need to be trained on how you want things done. Outline all of the expectations and rules for the job, provide all necessary documentation and answer any questions they may have. 

 

Provide Introductions

Being the “new” person is never easy. Companies that take the effort to make new drivers feel more comfortable are more likely to retain talent. Be sure to introduce new drivers to others in the company such as fellow drivers, warehouse staff, management, and anyone else they may work. Employees that build relationships within the company are more likely to stick around and be happier.

 

Cover New Policies

The transportation industry was crucial during the pandemic but in order to keep drivers and other workers safe a lot of new policies are being adopted. Many of the health and safety policies being introduced in companies are new for everyone but don’t forget to take extra time explaining everything to new employees. Clearly go over all new policies you may have around social distancing, cleanliness, and what protective equipment you want them to wear.

 

Check-In Regularly

Onboarding shouldn’t be a one-time deal. Companies that want to retain talent should be sure to check in regularly during the first few weeks of employment. Keep a close eye on new drivers to make sure they’re keeping up with the workload and happy. You can even assign a fellow driver to act as a mentor to guide them in the beginning.

 

Ask for Feedback

Once your new driver is settled into their role, check-in again and ask for honest feedback on how they thought the onboarding process went. They might have valuable opinions on how you could improve things for future new hires. Research shows that nearly one-third of new driver hires will quit within 90 days so it’s important to have a great onboarding process to reduce turnover.

 

Nova Staffing is one of the top recruitment agencies in Toronto and we can assist you in finding qualified candidates for your driver needs. We’ll provide your business with the support in needs in expanding during this time. Contact us today to discuss your hiring needs!