New job. New hires. New possibilities. New opportunities to make a splash! New challenges for you to thrive and succeed. New ideas that will take the company in new directions.
Hiring a new team member comes with a set of surprises. It can be a real turning point for the organization… and you don’t want to let that chance go away.
So, you might wonder how do we get your new employees off to an amazing start? Well, new employee orientation might just do that!
In this blog post, we will review what it stands for and go over some tips on putting together a great new hire orientation program for your company!
Introduction to new employee orientation
What is a new employee orientation?
New employee orientation is a process that helps onboard new hires by introducing them to their job, their team, and the company they will now work for. It’s all about acclimating them to their new workplace.
It can be an overwhelming time for a new employee, and orientation can help to ensure that they understand their job duties and are comfortable with the company culture.
By the end of orientation, new hires should understand the company culture, HR processes, and expectations.
What is the purpose of orientation?
New employee orientations are important because they help reduce turnover and ensure that employees are productive from their first day. They also allow managers to set expectations and give employees a chance to ask questions.
By taking the time to orient new employees, companies can make a big investment in their long-term success.
How long is new hire orientation?
While the exact length of this process can vary from company to company, most new hire orientation usually takes place over the course of a single day.
While for some organizations, it might last longer, it generally doesn’t go over a few days.
Does a job orientation mean you’re hired?
Job orientation usually occurs after the job offer has been accepted and before or on the employee’s first day.
While attending a job orientation does not guarantee that you will be hired, it usually is a good sign that the employer is interested in you and wants to make sure that you are a good fit for the position. We could say you are “pre-hired.”
For instance, employee orientation might include physical or drug testing. If the results are unsatisfactory, the employee might not be able to conclude the full hiring process.
What should a new employee orientation include?
The orientation process will vary from company to company but usually includes:
Stat with the basics
Detail what’s the company, who you are, what is the business and market, and what the new hire’s role will be.
A tour of the workplace
Make sure to include a tour of the office or factory floor, so they can get a feel for the physical space they’ll be working in.
An introduction to co-workers
Introduce employees to their colleagues, and make sure to facilitate some ice-breaking activities so they can start getting to know people.
An overview of the company culture
Explain your company’s culture and values and how you expect everyone to contribute to creating a positive work environment.
New employees will also learn about the company’s history and better understand the company’s mission.
Organization Rules
Go over your company’s policies and procedures so they know what is expected of them in terms of attendance, dress code, conduct, etc.
How to conduct a new employee orientation?
New employee orientation is an essential part of the employee onboarding process. It sets the tone for the rest of the employee’s time with the company and helps them feel comfortable in their new work environment. There are a few key components to a successful orientation program.
First, it is important to introduce the new employee to the organization’s culture and values. This can be done through presentations, videos, or even just conversation.
The next step is for the new employee to be shown around and acquainted with their coworkers. It can be a group tour of the facility or an office exploration thanks to a fun game, so don’t hesitate to have some fun!
Finally, it is important to provide the new employee with all of the necessary information about their job duties, company policies, and procedures. Make sure you present those, you finish up any new hire paperwork if needed, and send them all the necessary onboarding documents they might need.
Online orientation for remote employees
If you are onboarding remote employees, you’ll be able to do an online orientation through video conferencing, screen sharing, and even sending swag boxes to help them feel like part of the team from day one!
Have a look at our curated team gift ideas to inspire your welcome package!
7 Tips for creating a memorable new hire orientation
1. Make it interactive
One way to make sure your new hire orientation is memorable is to make it interactive.
To do so, include icebreaker activities, group exercises, outdoor team building, fun breakout sessions, and case studies.
For remote teams, make sure you include some virtual team-building activities.
This will help employee engagement and make the new hires feel more comfortable with their co-workers while having fun.
2. Use technology
Use technology to your advantage when creating a new hire orientation.
There are many great orientation programs that can help you create an interactive and engaging orientation experience.
3. Be inclusive
Make sure to be inclusive when designing your new hire orientation. This means considering employees of all backgrounds, cultures, religions, and abilities.
Employee orientation is the perfect opportunity to get everyone on the same page, bring everyone together, and build team cohesion.
This can be done through team-building exercises or simply by providing an inclusive and welcoming environment.
4. Keep it positive
It’s important to keep the overall tone of your new hire orientation positive.
New hire orientation is a time to focus on the positive and make a good first impression on new colleagues’ minds.
Be sure to highlight the company’s values and how they contribute to its success. This will help new employees feel good about their decision to join the company and reduce employee turnover.
5. Make it fun
New hires are more likely to remember their orientation if it’s fun!
To do so, we deeply recommend you use a gamification strategy. This can be done by incorporating games into the orientation and by giving out prizes for those who participate.
For instance, why not organize an office scavenger hunt instead of the usual tour? Or what about challenging the new team members to draw an office map?
To help them discover their new company and teammates, what about a new employee quiz to know the company history? Or a talent show to present new team members differently?
6. Don’t forget the snacks!
Make sure to have plenty of snacks and drinks on hand for your new hire orientation.
This will help to keep everyone’s energy levels up in between training sessions, reduce employee stress and make the overall experience more enjoyable.
You can also organize an outside lunch or welcome breakfast with all new employees.
6. Be prepared
Another of the best practices to create an effective new hire orientation is to make sure you are prepared.
This means having all the materials you need, as well as a backup plan in case something goes wrong. A great way to do so is by following a new employee orientation checklist you would have prepared beforehand.
You can also create a schedule in order to follow a good time-tracking of the orientation tasks and activities.
7. Follow up
The new employee onboarding process doesn’t end when the orientation day is over.
Be sure to follow up with new hires thanks to regular check-ins to see how they are doing and answer any questions they may have to ensure a smooth transition.
To do so, we invite you to keep a 30-60-90-day onboarding plan.
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New employees are the lifeblood of any company, so it’s important to take the time to orient them properly.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your new hires have a positive experience from their first day on the new job.
