Niki is director, service operations with Insperity. She specializes in employee onboarding, human capital management and HR infrastructure.
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As the competition for top talent continues to increase for employers seeking to fill a myriad of open positions, savvy business leaders are placing a greater focus on the pre-employment onboarding process. The time period between an accepted employment offer and the first day on the job is not only critical to extending the company culture, but also in helping to ensure new hires remain with the company for the formal onboarding process and beyond.
Top candidates have numerous options as the post-pandemic economy recovers; therefore, it is not uncommon for recent hires to ghost new employers on the first day, or prior, to pursue other opportunities. Similar to college football teams that recruit high school athletes years in advance, ongoing communication with players and continuous reinforcement of the brand are key to avoiding decommitments and/or transfers, leading to a stronger and more successful team.
Building and maintaining a successful company begins with an excellent corporate culture that is on display and practiced in all facets of business operations, including recruitment efforts. The culture that attracted candidates initially should continue to be woven into the pre-employment onboarding process, leading to a smoother transition for new employees.
Businesses should consider the following four steps for a successful pre-employment onboarding experience:
Support Key Personnel
To effectively implement a pre-employment onboarding program, identify and support key personnel who play an integral role in remaining connected to new hires before the formal onboarding program begins. Typically, hiring managers and recruiters handle the responsibilities; however, extending interaction with direct supervisors helps to embed future employees into the company culture. Providing key personnel with communication templates that can be personalized, onboarding plans and information from pertinent corporate departments will result in consistent messaging that supports the culture and strengthens the brand.
Extend A Warm Welcome
Based on the familiar adage “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression,” establishing an inviting environment sets the tone for a positive pre-employment onboarding experience and demonstrates the corporate culture. For example, a personalized welcome video that follows pre-approved messaging from supervisors to new hires will make them feel appreciated and part of the team. In addition, including some future co-workers in a follow-up video helps new hires put faces with names before day one, which can lead to a stronger connection to the company and its culture.
Stay In Touch
After candidates accept job offers, they can experience anxiety about making the right decision, wonder about their role, question their ability to connect with co-workers and more. Identifying and implementing a process for ongoing communications to remain in contact with new hires can help to alleviate any doubts and enable them to feel a more immediate connection to the company. For example, alternating between brief weekly check-in phone calls and emails from supervisors offers new hires a chance to learn more about their role and the company’s DNA as well as ask additional questions. Furthermore, if there are additional administrative tasks that can be completed prior to day one, new hires will feel less overwhelmed when they begin the job.
Set Expectations
As new hires excitedly anticipate their first day on the job, they may also experience some jitters. To help alleviate any apprehensions and set expectations, a best practice is to share a clear, written agenda for the first week, including introductions to key personnel and team members, required training sessions, completion of online forms and more. Providing an organized schedule of events in advance not only helps new employees, but also positions the company and its culture in a professional manner, further demonstrating the value it places on its employees.
With a keen focus on pre-employment onboarding, businesses can cultivate a strong corporate culture before day one, resulting in more engaged new hires, less employee turnover and streamlined processes.
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