Once a candidate is selected and accepts a job offer, many companies forgo the courtship strategies that were used to keep the job seeker engaged during the recruitment process. However, even if a candidate accepts a job offer, that doesn’t mean they’ve fully made up their mind about the opportunity. The onboarding experience further shapes their initial impressions, and how it unfolds can either assist with retention or lead to turnover.
Similarly, once word spreads about a company’s onboarding process, it can either assist with recruitment or deter talent, essentially prompting them to either pursue or avoid opportunities with the organization. If you’re concerned that your onboarding process is turning off candidates or new hires instead of attracting and retaining them, here’s what you need to consider.
Why the Effectiveness of the Onboarding Process Impacts Recruitment and Retention
While the first impression employers make on candidates typically occurs during the recruitment process, the onboarding experience is usually the most meaningful formal introduction to the organization, particularly when it comes to its culture.
A comprehensive onboarding process sets a new hire up for success, ensuring they have access to the people, resources, and information they need to excel. Additionally, it demonstrates a supportive culture, which can make the incoming employee feel more secure in their decision to accept the job.
When an onboarding process doesn’t mean up, new hires are often left confused, frustrated, or unsure, all of which can lead to turnover. They may feel unsupported or undervalued, preventing them from becoming fully invested in their new position. Similarly, believing they were insufficiently guided, which can occur if information about expectations or responsibilities isn’t appropriately provided, the incoming employee may think they’re being set up to fail, and that can cause them to leave the company in relatively short order.
The onboarding process also impacts the company’s employer brand. Whether positive or negative, the onboarding experience alters the organization’s reputation. In turn, it has an impact on recruitment, either increasing or decreasing access to top talent.
How to Improve Your Onboarding Process to Attract and Retain Top Talent
Creating an onboarding experience that eases recruitment and improves retention isn’t overly challenging. Start with a formal, structured process that lasts for weeks or months instead of mere days. The goal is to slowly introduce the new hire to their role while also ensuring they’re familiarized with their environment, its resources, members of their team, and other critical members of the broader workforce.
Additionally, focus on engagement and interactivity. A purely text-driven onboarding process is dull and cumbersome, so find other ways to present critical information whenever possible, such as direct interactions with managers, roleplay scenarios during safety training, and similar options.
Using leading onboarding technology is also wise. It streamlines the related workflows and provides a mechanism for ensuring every step is complete. Plus, leading solutions can create opportunities for preboarding, allowing new hires to handle critical documents before their first day.
At Essium, our modern onboarding solutions are definitively designed with the staffing sector in mind, providing recruitment agencies the features and tools they require to offer an exceptional candidate and client experience, streamline internal workflows, and handle compliance requirements. Schedule a consultation call with us today!
