You’ve made a new hire – congratulations! After navigating the often-challenging hiring process, it’s time to focus on setting your new team member up for success. Welcoming someone to your company is an exciting opportunity to ensure they feel supported, confident, and ready to excel. Here are four ways to help your new hire succeed during their first 90 days:
- Fine-tune the training process. Provide clear and accessible training materials, resources, and guides to address common questions your new hire might have. Ensure existing team members are trained to be effective, patient communicators who can guide new hires with clarity and support. Pair your new hire with a trainer who is equipped to answer questions while also encouraging confidence and independence. Regularly check in on your new team member’s progress to determine when they’re ready to move forward to the next level of training (ex. transitioning from observing tasks to hands-on practice with support, and eventually to independent work). Rushing the initial training process can lead to unnecessary stress and confusion, so focus on pacing training to set your new hire up for success.
- Keep communication strong. Establish and maintain consistent, clear communication between the new hire and their supervisor or manager. From the start, set clear expectations for their role, define what success looks like, and outline any key performance metrics that will be monitored. Follow up with regular check-ins to discuss progress and address any questions they may have. Decide on the frequency of these touchpoints (whether weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) and communicate this plan so the new hire knows what to expect and can come prepared for these meetings.
- Encourage team bonding and camaraderie. Help your new hire build connections by facilitating introductions with their team members and other colleagues they’ll be working with. While new employees can take the initiative to meet others, providing a structured way to break the ice makes the process smoother. Start by introducing them to their immediate team, then expand to other teams they’ll collaborate with in the future. These introductions lay the foundation for strong working relationships and a sense of belonging within the organization.
- Establish an internal mentor. Assigning a mentor to your new hire can provide valuable guidance and support. A mentor offers a unique perspective on the company and its culture, especially if they’re from a different team, broadening the new hire’s understanding of the organization. Unlike the manager-new hire relationship, the mentor doesn’t necessarily oversee the new hire’s daily tasks or performance evaluations, which can help foster a candid and informal connection that encourages open dialogue.
With these strategies in place, you can set your new employees up for success by equipping them with the training, resources, and support they need from day one. Investing in their onboarding experience not only helps them feel valued and confident but can also increase the likelihood of their long-term satisfaction and retention within your company.
Nexxt is a leading HR technology company that uses today’s most effective marketing tactics to reach candidates at scale. Learn more about hiring with Nexxt.