Are you bucking the current trend and actually hiring a new employee? Here’s how to help that team member hit the ground running:
- Consider welcoming your new employee even before the official start date. A colleague joining a public relations firm received a gift basket full of samples from the agency’s clients. Even a hand-written note expressing delight that an employee has chosen to join the firm will get things off to a very positive beginning.
- Prior to day one, announce the new hire internally and provide background on the joining team member. Encourage those who will work with the new employee to send a welcome e-mail.
- On the first day, ensure the employee’s supervisor is available to take her to lunch and introduce her to others. If this isn’t possible, it’s critical to assign this role to a colleague. Failing to do so sends an unpleasant message. For instance, on the day that a client began with a new employer, she was surprised to learn that her supervisor was out of town for several days and she was “on her own” in terms of orientation. While she introduced herself to others and found her way around, she was taken aback that her supervisor hadn’t prepared for her first day.
- Ensure that the new employee receives a complete administrative briefing. For example, his office should be clean and orderly, his business cards ready and computer passwords provided.
- Communicate the organization’s business objectives and make sure the new employee understands how her role supports their achievement.
- Clearly establish measures of success. Within the first three months, set goals for the new employee and check back at the six month point to gauge progress.
By Jenny Schade, president, JRS Consulting. JRS Consulting helps organizations dramatically increase attraction among customers and employees. Jenny Schade has interviewed more than 1,000 employees while guiding organizations through turbulent change. Get more tips from the free JRS newsletter.
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It would be wise to write the article in an unbiased fashion … “she should be introduced” and “his office should be clean” implies underlying tones of stereotypes that should be considered when communicating. Although I am a student, I also have worked for my own clients during school long enough to learn this basic thing about writing.
Aside from the stereotypes, the article suggests some pretty decent things. I would love to be welcomed into an organization in some of the ways this article suggests.
Thanks for your input. I hope your next job includes the recommendations in the article. I’ve been hearing about these ideas during my interviews with employees over the years and enjoyed assembling them for this piece.
Jenny Schade
I think “annonymous student/professional” was a little uber-sensitive and read too much into potential “stereotypes” in the article. Jenny, I liked the article and would just add that the supervisor also provide examples/templates of how certain documents and/or processes should be followed. Going from one comapany to another, there are different systems in place for essentially doing the same task. Not being on the same page in the new company could be an early disconnect on the job.
Good point, FanofPR. Experience is often the best teacher. Sounds like you’ve learned from your own situations and your own employees will benefit.
Thanks, sensar. Good point about many feeling people petrified on that first job. I remember my first boss — that experience would make a good blog post in itself!