November 2nd, 2023 | Sterling

Creating an Effective Onboarding Experience

You’ve just decided on your new hire and are about to warmly congratulate them. But what’s next? What exactly do they need to know, and what do you need to make clear? What do your candidates really want?

Organizations are quickly learning what candidates don’t want. According to Criteria’s 2023 Candidate Experience report, “54% of candidates have walked away from a job due to poor communication, which continues to be the biggest issue candidates face.”

Onboarding is the final stage in both the hiring process and the candidate experience. Successful onboarding programs fully integrate new hires into the team by incorporating training, goal-setting, managerial feedback, and career development.

Fortunately, HR professionals can learn how to improve their communication cadence and deliver an outstanding onboarding experience by downloading Sterling’s new eBook, HR’s Guide to Onboarding: From Decision to Day One and Beyond.

Let’s dive into why onboarding is so essential to the success of both your employees and your business.

Onboarding Makes (or Breaks) the Candidate Experience

When candidates think about onboarding, they often remember a hectic first day filled with paperwork, federal forms, and headaches. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

Onboarding a new employee is the ideal time to celebrate your new hire and make them feel welcome at your company. That’s why onboarding shouldn’t end when all the paperwork’s done. Instead, effective onboarding is part of a strategic plan to help your new employee excel in their new position.

Onboarding is also a critical part of creating a great candidate experience for your new employees. When onboarding goes well, the benefits from increased employee engagement directly impact your organization’s success.

Onboarding Benefits Your Bottom Line

According to Deloitte’s 2023 Global Human Capital Trends report, organizations should be designing their processes for impact. Their research found that: 

Deliver a Positive Onboarding Experience from Day One

There’s a lot riding on Day One, whether the role is in-person or remote, and it’s important to consider just how important this day is for your newest hire.

Starting a new job can be overwhelming. There are so many new faces and names to memorize while learning the ins-and-outs of your workplace, whether their roles are in-person, hybrid, or remote.

But onboarding is more than just the start of their exciting journey with your organization. It’s your opportunity to fully bring new employees into your company’s culture, to let them know that there’s always someone ready to help, and that your company is thrilled to welcome them.

And how do engaged employees benefit your business? According to Talent Board’s 2022 North American Candidate Experience Benchmark Research Report, benefits include:

  • Increased ROI and productivity
  • Increased employee engagement
  • Stronger company culture
  • Positive employee referrals and brand loyalty

Discover innovative ways to increase employee engagement in our new Onboarding Guide.

Keep on Track with Our 30/60/90 Day Onboarding Plan

What Does an Efficient Onboarding Process Look Like?

Onboarding goes well beyond the first day. Official onboarding programs can run anywhere from one week to 90 days — or even longer. How can HR professionals stay on target?

When designing a great onboarding experience, it’s helpful to have a timetable covering everything you’ll need to cover with your new hire during the first few months.

Sterling’s 30/60/90-day Onboarding Plan on page 18 of the Onboarding Guide acts as a clear roadmap for your new hire, letting them know what your organization’s expectations are during their first 90 days. Implementing a 30/60/90 Day Plan will help to increase employee engagement while making sure the new employee understands their responsibilities and expectations from the first day.

Having this plan will help your new hires smoothly transition from being a “newbie” into a full contributor to the team and to your company.

The Onboarding Guide also includes a helpful checklist featuring several onboarding best practices to help you avoid last-minute mix-ups while setting the stage for success.

Build an Authentic Culture Through Trust and Safety

Sterling strongly believes that every hire is important and a celebration for both the candidate and employer. That’s why we enable our clients to make smarter, faster hiring decisions so they can take the next step with their candidates and employees. Learn how to make your new hires a full part of the team in our new HR Guide to Onboarding.

Sterling is not a law firm. This publication is for informational purposes only and nothing contained in it should be construed as legal advice. We expressly disclaim any warranty or responsibility for damages arising out this information. We encourage you to consult with legal counsel regarding your specific needs. We do not undertake any duty to update previously posted materials.