As the adage goes, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” That impression isn’t only important for your new employees, but your organization as well.
One of the most exciting times for newly hired employees is the first few weeks at their new organization. Starting a new job is certainly an energizing experience, but it comes with some anxiety as well. The best way to alleviate any concerns is with an engaging new hire orientation and onboarding process. Not only does this process help welcome your new colleagues, but it sets the foundation for their success in the next stage of their career.
The funny thing about new hire orientations is that no matter how excited the new associate is to get to work, a lot of the material covered in the onboarding process tends to be, well… a bit boring. Things like administrative information, policies, procedures, organizational structure and benefits enrollment don’t exactly make the most entertaining presentations.
But not to worry! There are ways to improve on this process and give your Human Resources and Benefits Teams the tools and resources they need to deliver an engaging, and dare we say fun(?!) new hire orientation process.
Showcase Your Unique Company Culture and Values with Energizing, Customized Video Content
Did you know that 72% of consumers say they would rather learn by way of video? In fact, the power of video communication is so impactful, 84% of people say they’ve been convinced to buy a product or service by simply watching a video.
Think about that for just a second… 7 in 10 would rather learn via video and over 8 in 10 have even spent money after being influenced by a video.
That’s a huge opportunity to reach your new audience.
Let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to keep the attention of your audience for 30 seconds, much less for an entire, often times, lengthy presentation. You have worked incredibly hard to develop a unique culture and this is your chance to show it off. Your business is more than logos, colors, catchy taglines or a frilly diagram. Thrill your audience with engaging, personalized video that explains how your organization got to where it is today. Who you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re headed are important highlights that your new hires should be not only interested in, but invested in. Video communications paint the full picture of who you are and what you stand for.
Promote an Environment of Inclusion with Content That Resonates with Today’s Hybrid Workforce
Without new hire orientations, new employees may feel unfamiliar and even uncomfortable in his or her new role. This tends to lead to less productivity and a longer ramping up period to reach their full potential.
In fact, a recent Gallup poll reports only 12% of employees strongly agree their organization does a great job of onboarding new employees, and according to SHRM, employee turnover can reach as high as 50% in the first 18 months of employment.
Robust new hire onboarding is even more important for new hires who work remotely, which is a large portion of us.
According to a recent Upwork report, 1 in 4 Americans are working remotely, and by 2025, over 36 million Americans will be working remotely.
That is an increase of 87% from pre-pandemic levels. The need to not only reach, but engage your remote workforce is incredibly important.
Ensure you are maximizing the impact of your new hire onboarding process by incorporating detailed, invigorating digital content. Consider boosting knowledge retention with a collection of concise, personalized training videos, delivering that personal touch to your new hires. The potential topics can span from health and safety protocols to benefits and perks. Not only does this inform and engage your new colleagues, but it also shows that you value their time by providing flexible learning options they can fit in whenever it’s convenient for them. It also doesn’t hurt to show them the full value of your total compensation package.
Provide Additional Resources and Learning Beyond the Initial Orientation Period
We’ve all sat through lengthy presentations and asked diligent questions throughout only to find out days or weeks later those additional, pesky questions and concerns naturally pop up along the way. Not only is it important to offer Q&A sessions after these presentations, but think about relieving some added anxiety by providing helpful capital that your newbies can use at their leisure moving forward.
Consider developing a centralized learning & resources microsite that you can deploy to all recently graduated new hires for their use after the onboarding process. This can include information on company policies, benefits, upcoming events, career advancement opportunities, ongoing education, or even team building activities. Your organization likely already does a great job of offering tools and resources to its employees, but do they know where to find what they need, when they need it? Having all of your helpful assets in one place provides your new hires a safe haven to access anything they need, taking one less thing off of their plate as they become part of your organization.
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MuleTown Media helps businesses streamline their HR, Benefits, and Internal Communications through the power of video, making life easier for Human Resources and Benefits Teams. Contact us today to discuss how we can partner together to ease your burden and make a meaningful impact at your organization.
