Onboarding is the first glimpse into the workings of an organization for a new employee. It is a chance for the company to make a new associate feel welcome and valued while developing pride in the organization. According to SHRM, 69 percent of employees are more likely to stay with a company for three years if they experienced a great onboarding experience. Unfortunately, however, onboarding is many a times overlooked and not paid enough attention. This subject needs attention in the current scenario where remote onboarding is the new normal.

A well-thought and well-executed onboarding plan can go a long way in retaining employees and building a great corporate culture. This blog will look at some essential tips that can help make your virtual onboarding successful.

 

Tips for Successful Virtual Onboarding

Think Ahead – Pre-Onboarding

The first day of the job is an exciting time where a new associate looks forward to understanding his new place. Activities like documentation should not compromise this experience. Recruiters should ensure that the necessary paperwork is completed before joining so that the first day is reserved for interactions, meeting team members and colleagues, and understanding the organization. Things like a staff directory and client lists can be made handy to circulate on day one. Another important aspect is to make all essential tools available to the employee before or as soon as they join. This includes devices with pre-installed software, guidelines on using necessary software for day one, login credentials, and access to communication channels. Attention to pre-onboarding activities will set the right tone for an organized and smooth onboarding process.

 

Make an Impression – Welcome

Companies are finding creative ways of welcoming employees. From expertly curated welcome kits and letters to engaging videos and interactive global onboarding training processes, there are many ways the first interactions of the employee can be made memorable. This achieves a sense of belonging in the organization and motivates the employee to be part of the team. This is especially true with resources that are offshore or in remote locations. These warm gestures can go a long way in nurturing relationships within the team and the company.

Get Organized – Onboarding Sessions

In a world of online meetings and training sessions, it can be challenging to make onboarding and training sessions exciting and grab the attention of new employees. An unorganized training program can further distance your audience and create an impression that enough effort has not been put in. The onboarding training should be planned to encourage interactions and generate interest in the organization and its workings. Conducting a few activities and allowing breaks at appropriate times are essential to keep spirits high throughout the day. Daily check-ins and one-on-one sessions also go a long way in making a new employee feel heard and valued.

Foster Relationships – Work Buddy

Entering a new organization is daunting enough without the barriers of remote working. Making connections with co-workers is even more challenging without actual interactions in the office space. It is a good idea to assign a colleague as a work buddy for a fresh recruit. Work buddies can introduce new employees to other co-workers and help them quickly understand the company’s day-to-day processes. Managers can also set aside time to get them acquainted with the team and processes in the initial days of joining.

Continuous Improvement – Collect Feedback

From an organizational point of view, things may not change in the onboarding process because they seem to be working. Only when employees are allowed to voice their opinions can we get an accurate picture of the experience delivered at the ground level. With virtual onboarding being a relatively recent development for most organizations, employees need to take time out and gather inputs from new associates to offer the best onboarding program. It is important to gather attendees’ feedback at regular intervals in the first couple of weeks after recruitment. Organizations can gain valuable insights that can help them significantly improve the onboarding journey.

Conclusion

The main objective of onboarding is to make new team members feel accepted in the organization. Creating a supportive environment through virtual onboarding reduces the dropout rate and successfully helps employees navigate a new workspace. The cost of recruiting, onboarding, and training a candidate is very high. Being transparent, attentive, and providing relevant information in an interesting manner is crucial to get the new employee adjusted in the organization and perform to the best of their abilities. With offshore outsourcing and remote working becoming more popular, you need a partner like NAVA Software to provide vetted and reliable resources to make your onboarding fruitful.

At NAVA Software, we have a thorough screening process for all resources, verifying documents and conducting background checks before sharing the candidate details. This makes your onboarding more efficient. To know more information on our outsourcing services, contact us today at info@navasoftware.com.