How To Induct New Staff

The induction process can be a daunting one, both for the new starter and the organisation. It is important to get this period of time right as it sets the tone for their role going forward and is when crucial information about the company is shared.

Create a schedule

There is nothing worse for a new employee than arriving on their first day to disorganised chaos. This can leave them feeling as though the company hasn’t prioritised them which doesn’t serve well as a good first impression.

Be sure to create an induction schedule well in advance and discuss with different departments when is best for them to carry out their parts of the induction. Don’t over-cram the schedule, make sure to leave some time for all the new information to digest.

Speak with existing employees and get their feedback on their induction processes to find out where improvements could be made and if there is anything they think was overlooked during their induction.

Make information easy to access

No matter how experienced the person is, starting at a new company and learning how to navigate new systems and ways of working can be challenging. One way to help combat this is to make all training information as easy to access as possible.

Keep all necessary training and induction documentation in one place and store it on the new starter’s desktop for access. That way, as soon as they turn on their new laptop or computer, they will be able to see where everything that they need for their first few days is.

As well as storing information digitally, it can be useful to create informative physical booklets for new starters to keep. These should contain less sensitive information, as well as a copy of the induction schedule.

Introduce them to the team

Induction periods tend to be very busy, with lots to learn. As a result, this can often mean that people don’t get properly introduced to the team for several weeks. Whilst it is important that learning takes place and information is taken in, it is also vital that new starters feel well integrated within their teams, allowing them to feel comfortable once they begin working properly.

Try to include a team lunch or coffee in the induction schedule so that people can get to know each other on a more personal level.

Provide a point of contact

During the induction process, new starters will typically meet lots of different people within the organisation, from team members to line managers through to Managing Directors. This can make it difficult for them to know who they should go to with any problems or questions during this time.

Make sure to provide any new starters with a clear point of contact so they feel comfortable asking for help or clarifications.