The new hire experience is dramatically shaped by a company’s onboarding process. While automated onboarding does increase efficiency by streamlining workflows and eliminating redundant data entry, it comes with a clear risk. Automation can dehumanize the onboarding process, making it feel mechanical or sterile to candidates, and that can lead to disengagement.
As a result, incorporating the human touch into onboarding processes is essential. Through personalization, each new hire feels welcome and supported as an individual, leading to greater engagement and motivation. In turn, they often reach full productivity faster, and retention is typically far easier to achieve.
Plus, personalization allows a company to highlight its unique culture and values. When done correctly, this can help an organization position itself as an employer of choice. Fortunately, personalizing your onboarding process isn’t overly complicated. Here are some tips to get you started.
Tailor Onboarding Experiences to the Position
Many companies rely on a one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to onboarding. The issue is that every role or team is unique. Some may benefit from specific information that others don’t require, so having every new hire review it only helps the few, not the many.
Tailoring the onboarding process to each position or department creates an opportunity for streamlining and focus. New hires cover the information they require while skipping the parts that don’t apply to their job. Along with greater efficiency, the approach boosts engagement, leading to better retention.
When creating tailored experiences, begin by sharing relevant company details. Outlining the organization’s mission and values is wise, as well as introducing products and services that connect to the role. Covering industry or market data is also potentially smart, as well as discussing current successes and known challenges.
Next, spend time discussing unique aspects of the team the new hire is joining. Discuss its function and how its work connects to a broader mission. If possible, present short bios on their soon-to-be manager and colleagues, preferably coupled with personalized welcome messages.
Showcasing role-specific information – such as applicable best practices, role-based performance expectations, and similar details – is another intelligent move. That helps introduce the new hire to their job and answers questions they likely have before they begin handling duties.
Providing tutorials for tools they’ll use during the performance of their tasks is another aspect to consider for a personalized onboarding experience. By offering this type of training, incoming employees can increase their familiarity as quickly as possible. In turn, they’ll begin in their role with more confidence.
Implement Onboarding Solutions That Support Personalization
Having the right onboarding solution allows companies to tap critical capabilities, such as automation, to make onboarding easier to manage. However, it’s crucial to choose onboarding software that isn’t overly rigid, ensuring there are opportunities to personalize candidate journeys to boost the overall experience and strengthen engagement.
If you want an onboarding solution that supports personalization to boost candidate engagement, Essium can help. Contact us to learn more about our comprehensive onboarding solutions and how we can help your recruitment agency thrive.
