We’ve all be the new kid at one point in our lives or another, and as you get older you go from being the new kid in school, to the new employee in a company. No matter how many times we’ve started a new job, or moved into a new department, we always seem to wrack our brains wondering if we’ll be able to find the restroom or what everyone does for lunch or how to remember all these new names. Starting and onboarding new employees can often be a tough transition, but it’s our job as coworkers and managers to welcome the ‘newbies’ and make sure that they stick around for the long haul.
Here are 5 helpful tips to make your new hires feel welcome:
- Be prepared for them!
No one wants to walk into a new job not knowing where to sit or having the proper tools to be successful. Make sure that you or your HR department has prepared your new hire’s workspace, paperwork and credentials. This will eliminate wasted and sometimes awkward downtime.
- Get them involved.
Plan something special for them to be invited to or a part of on their first day. Whether it is a group lunch, morning coffee roundtable or a silly ice breaker, emerging a new employee in the company culture as soon as possible is a great way to make them feel that they are an important part of the team. Even introducing them to everyone on a Friday rather than a busy Monday morning can sometimes be a more seamless transition.
- Have a mentor or buddy system.
Don’t let new employees go at it alone. Mentors are so important in creating the groundwork for a successful, passionate and engaged employee. This person will not only serve as a go-to for daily questions and support, but also someone to just chat or grab lunch with.
- Express a genuine interest in your new hire on a personal level.
This doesn’t mean that on their first day you should grill them about how many kids they have and their favorite type of pizza, but the more we know about a new employee the more we are able to trust, connect, and ultimately produce higher-quality work.
- Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone or stop by their desk.
It’s so easy for us to just shoot over a quick response via email, or to check in on the status of a project, but for a new employee it’s nice to be able to put a face with the name. Taking a few extra minutes to call their office line, or swing by their desk will help them to create relationships with people they are working closely with.
The first day of the new job is always full of anticipation and excitement for new hires, so be sure to do your best to make them feel welcome and at ease. Most likely they made a big decision be deciding to join your company and you want to reassure them that they made the right choice. And oh yeah, some free company swag doesn’t hurt either!
