Employee retention is vital, but you know that. If you want to attract and retain high-quality employees, you need to impress them in the hiring process and when they come on board.
According to research, it seems as though retaining millennials can be different than your normal retention process. This is why making a great first impression on your new employees will go a long way to improve employee retention efforts.
This means the way you welcome and train your new employee will affect their first impression of your work processes and the company as a whole. Getting things right with your new employee is essential from day one.
If you don’t already have one, you should create an onboarding process that is positive and motivating to welcome new hires.
You will learn when you partner with Interior Talent, that retention is key. The team provides resources and onboarding guides to help your team throughout the entire process.
Remember, a new employee is probably both eager and apprehensive on their first day. So here’s your chance to make them feel comfortable, valued, and accepted.
How to Make a Great First Impression
First impressions are said to be lasting. So make sure you make a good one when welcoming a new employee.
You don’t want a negative first impression to turn into a reason for a new employee to leave, as we know just how important employee retention is. So do it right the first time around with these simple tips:
Personally greet
Make a note in your calendar about when your new employee will arrive in order to welcome them and introduce them to the team. This will make them feel welcome and relaxed. Ensure all the members of the department or team are aware of the new hire’s arrival.
Be prepared
Ensure you plan their workspace ahead of time. You don’t want to give your new worker the impression that your company is disorganized and unprofessional.
Provide them with all the appropriate equipment and supplies they will need for work, along with all the computer connectivity they need, like passwords and email addresses. And of course, give them a task straight away, so they feel valued and productive.
Informal meeting
Once the new hire is settled, call them in to chat about your expectations of their role and provide some company culture insight. It’s good to go over the expectations for the position and any upcoming goals the employee needs to work towards.
In terms of company culture, it’s good to give some insight into workplace norms such as flexible arrival times, breaks, intranet access, etc.
Welcome lunch
Why not ask the new employee’s team member or manager to spend a little time with the new employee over lunch, either at a restaurant or in the office. This way, they can spend some time getting to know the person and making them feel welcome.
Touch base
Once the introductions are done, don’t just leave the new employee alone all day. Check in with them throughout the day to see how they are doing and if they have any questions to ask about specific processes or procedures.
Assimilate and guide
Assign your new employee a mentor and schedule regular meetings to build a fruitful relationship with them. According to research, mentoring is key to retaining employees as it makes them feel supported and valued and can open up communication lines within the company.
Top Tip: Contact the new employee before the start date and provide them with all the necessary paperwork and employee handbook and information. This way, they can come with any questions they may have on their first day.
Mistakes to Avoid
Taking onboarding seriously is the best way to make a new employee feel welcomed and valued. Here are a few mistakes to avoid when welcoming your new employee:
Don’t keep them waiting at the reception; your reception team must know how to welcome the new hire and direct them to the correct department or person straightaway. Having an informed welcome at the reception will show excellent communication on your part.
- Ensure their manager is available on the day and not, for example, in meetings all day. The manager will need to meet with the new hire and connect with them throughout the day.
-
Don’t forget to have their workspace ready; it will seem as though your company is inefficient at running things and make them feel unimportant if you haven’t got a desk ready for them.
- Find the right person to show a new employee around, not, for example, someone with a looming deadline. Instead, find someone who understands their role and is willing to help out when needed throughout the day.
Employee retention is key. It takes a lot of time and costs a lot of money to find the right person for a job. Once you’ve found one, it’s essential to do all you can to have them stay. So why not start by making their first day memorable and positive?
How We Can Help
Are you looking for a new employee, or are you struggling to retain employees? A professional technical recruitment agency such as Interior Talent can help you with your technical services recruitment and any interior design and architecture firms hiring.
Interior Talent has years’ of experience and is focused on building an extensive candidate network that is relationship-driven. For this reason, our clients and candidates trust the information we present to them.
Let us help you find the best person for the job. Find out more about us or get in touch with us at info@interiortalent.com.