What the onboarding process is, how to implement and improve it

Onboarding is the part of of integrating and familiarizing a new employee, customer, student, or user with a company, product, service, or platform. While there are various types of onboarding, including employee onboarding, customer onboarding, student onboarding, and user onboarding, the underlying idea remains the same: to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure a positive experience for the individual.

Employee onboarding is the process of integrating a new employee into an organization and familiarizing them with the company culture, policies, procedures, and expectations to ensure their success and long-term retention. It typically involves completing paperwork, setting up IT accounts and equipment, training sessions, and assigning a mentor or buddy to the new employee.

Orientation is a component of the employee onboarding process that typically occurs on the first day of a new employee’s activity. It is a structured introduction to the company and its policies, procedures, and expectations. The purpose of orientation is to provide the new employee with an overview of the company’s culture, mission, values, and history, as well as to help them understand their role and responsibilities within the organization.

An onboarding specialist is responsible for overseeing the process of integrating new employees into an organization, which involves providing new hires with the necessary information about the company, introducing them to the organization’s systems, processes, and policies, and ensuring that they become productive members of the team as quickly as possible.

An onboarding buddy is a current employee who is matched with a new hire to provide guidance, support, and education about the organization’s processes, policies, culture, and social connections. They help the new hire feel welcomed and comfortable in the workplace environment. Studies have shown that having an onboarding buddy increases a new hire’s efficiency and productivity, boosts their satisfaction, and provides valuable context that cannot be found in manuals or handbooks.

An onboarding checklist is a tool used by organizations to ensure that new employees are properly integrated into the company and their roles. It is designed to go beyond the first day of orientation and includes many steps involving several departments. The checklist ensures that the organization does not miss any crucial steps in the onboarding process, which can help to retain employees for longer. The checklist includes items to be completed on the first day, the first week, the first month, and beyond, and is intended to provide employees with the encouragement and support they need to become productive and engaged in their roles.

Yes, if you have started the onboarding process, it generally means that you have been hired and have the job, as long as you have signed and returned the employment contract that includes the terms and conditions of your employment. However, it’s important to note that onboarding does not guarantee job security, and you may still need to prove yourself during the probationary period or try-out period.