As someone responsible for recruiting in your company and in a candidate driven market, you’ve written a job description, attracted applicants through advertising and/or engaging with a reputable recruitment agency, interviewed candidates and made a job offer that has been verbally accepted.

It’s a case of ‘well done’ so far, but there is still work to be done. The next step in the recruitment process is now in front of you, which is ‘Employee Onboarding’.

What is Employee Onboarding?

Onboarding is not the same as induction. Onboarding is the process of integrating your new employee before their first day. A successful onboarding process has proven to enhance performance and reduce staff turnover.

How to get Onboarding right

Here are a few ideas to get your Employee Onboarding right:

• Start as soon as the offer is verbally accepted. There should be no delay between getting a ‘Yes’ to sending out relevant documents. If the candidate is working elsewhere, they will not resign until they receive something in writing. Get an offer letter out ASAP. You can then agree on a start date.
• If the candidate has a notice period, keep in touch periodically. Send them a schedule of their first week and details of the induction process. If possible, keep them updated on company news and internal updates.
• Introduce them to their colleagues. This can be done by arranging a team social, working lunch or if time does not allow this can be done remotely.
• Coordinate with colleagues to get the necessary IT systems and any equipment needed arranged. Work with the Human Resources and Finance departments to get the required identification documents and payroll information. Everything should be ready on the start date.
• Create a personal training programme. With induction there will be the standard familiarisation and Health and Safety protocols to cover, however take this time to come up with specific training to give the new employee every chance of success. This could be systems training, scheduling meetings with customers, internal updates regarding legislation etc.

Recruitment is a timely and costly exercise, the last thing you’ll want is to fall at the final hurdle.

Bowen Eldridge Recruitment acts as a specialist agency for Accountancy Practice, Finance and Marketing recruitment.