Having an efficient onboarding process is essential to employee success and retention. After all, you only get one chance to make a great first impression! Ensure you are setting your new manufacturing hires off to a good start with these tips.
Start Early
Use the time between making the job offer and the new employee’s start date wisely. This is a great time to send a welcome message and ask your new hire to fill out paperwork. It also shows the person that you are excited to bring them on board.
Make It Engaging
An old piece of public speaking advice simply says, “Don’t be boring!” Onboarding can be one of the most tedious days of your employees’ lives, or it can leave them with great memories. Find ways to keep things fresh, from trivia games to scavenger hunts to guided tours of the facility.
Hit the Basics First
It’s always best to begin at the beginning. And that means giving your new hires a brief overview of your company and its mission, as well as your overall workplace culture. Follow this up with such practicalities as the location of the restrooms and the cafeteria. Also, make sure new employees know who to talk to about any concerns or questions that arise.
Set Clear Expectations and Then Assign Job Tasks
Ensure each employee knows exactly what you expect from them and what they can expect from you. Then get them started with small but meaningful job tasks. Consider pairing each new hire with a long-term employee for a few days of job shadowing and on-the-job training. Make sure that person understands how to give progressively more responsibility as the new hire learns what to do.
Give It Some Time
Onboarding should take weeks, not hours. You can get a new employee started in a single day, but it will take about three months for the average person to become fully comfortable in their new position. Some people learn faster than others, and some are a bit more hesitant to fully jump in until they feel confident. Keep the lines of communication open and be ready to provide guidance as needed, but don’t micromanage. Give new employees some space to figure things out.
Need Some New Employees?
Workbox Staffing partners with light industrial companies to provide temporary, temp-to-hire, or permanent employees in more than 30 locations across the Midwest, Midatlantic, and Southeast. If you’re ready to grow your workforce, get in touch with us today!
