The corporate world involves many complex terms and processes that need to take place. One of them is the recruitment process and of course onboarding. Starting a new job can cause anxiety and uncertainty about the whole process. Especially if you genuinely desire to work for a company, have been to an interview, and have been invited to the first day of work. Does onboarding generally mean we are hired?
In this article, we will answer your question about whether the onboarding process means you got the job and in which cases it matters.
Follow the specific topic that you are interested in:
- Starting new job in a new company
- Starting new position in the same company
- Onboarding isn’t a promise for the job
If you want to be sure about what is onboarding, learn more in our article What onboarding means. This process also involves specific onboarding documents that are necessary or recommended by us to ensure a quality onboarding process, which can be quite important for resolving various contentious situations.
Starting new job in a new company
When onboarding a new employee in a new company, the employer must provide the employee with certain legal documents. Those are necessary to comply with the applicable laws and regulations in the US, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the National Labor Relations Act.
As part of the onboarding process, the employee will also receive a copy of the employment contract, which includes the terms and conditions of their employment. This contract must be signed and returned to the employer before the employee can begin work and could include provisions such as salary, benefits, and job duties.
In this case, if you have started the onboarding process, you can be considered to have a job. You can be present at the workplace and carry out your work tasks if you have an employment contract.
The onboarding process steps are usually one of the first tasks of the job. These are tasks that the employer asks you to carry out to get a better and more complete understanding of the company’s structure, your new colleagues and to familiarise yourself with the work tasks to be carried out. These are activities that the employer should already be paying you for under your employment contract.
Of course, there may be occasions when some of these tasks are assigned as homework before the first day of work. For example, when your employer sends you an email with a presentation, you must familiarise yourself with it before your first day of work.
In this case, completing this assignment would be advisable if you want to integrate into the work team and develop your career smoothly.
Starting new position in the same company
Typically, new position onboarding happens right after you’ve got the job in a new position. If you’ve changed workplaces or simply gotten a role in a new position, it is pretty common to experience onboarding. In that case, the short answer is yes, you have the job.
The onboarding process involves various steps, from the job offer to team training. The length of onboarding might range from a few weeks to a year. Although the best onboarding often lasts for at least a few months.
Employees should feel competent and confident to do their job when the onboarding process is finished. Though the whole process of onboarding means you have been hired already.
Onboarding isn’t a promise for the job
While onboarding means that you have taken up a new job, it can not always mean that your position is promised to you. What we mean by this is that you can’t relax just yet. After getting a job, onboarding is your time to prove yourself. You have got to do everything you can to leave a good impression on your coworkers and the boss themselves.
Many companies require a try-out period when the new employees are being tested. It can be a month up to a few months. Usually, in that time, you get paid slightly less than you regularly would be.
This all depends on your work location, what kind of work world you are into, and the culture. All of these things may vary. Either way, it is essential to remember that simply getting to the onboarding process does not mean you can’t be fired. So keep working hard and prove yourself.
Final thoughts
Starting a new job at a new company means you’ll get important papers to follow the law, like rules about work hours and breaks. You’ll also get a job contract that talks about your pay and what you should do at work. Once you start this process, it means you have the job.
You’ll do tasks to learn about the company and your team, which you should get paid for. Sometimes, you might need to learn some things before your first day.
If you’re starting a new role in the same company, the process is similar. You’re considered hired once onboarding begins. The onboarding can be short or last many months, but its goal is to make you feel ready and confident in your new job.
Since you’ve made it all the way to the end of our article, you know that the onboarding process is not a job guarantee just yet. Check out our article Best onboarding memes; the whole thing will feel very relatable.
Check out some of our other articles related to this topic, such as:
- Employee Preboarding – First Step of Onboarding
- Transition Into New Role
- Best Intern Onboarding Practices
FAQ
Does the onboarding process mean I got the job?
Yes, if you have started the onboarding process, it can be considered that you have got the job. This is because you are already present at the workplace and can carry out your work tasks if you have an employment contract.
What is included in the onboarding process for a new job in a new company?
For a new job in a new company, the onboarding process includes providing the employee with legal documents to comply with US laws, signing an employment contract, and participating in activities to familiarize yourself with the company and work tasks.
