How to Successfully Onboard New Employees

The labor market is in a state of upheaval. People are leaving their jobs in record numbers, and companies are struggling to recruit and retain the right talent. How, exactly, these organizations will accomplish this is the subject of much debate, but one thing is for certain: onboarding will be critical. Get it right, and employees are far more likely to stay. Get it wrong, and turnover will likely continue. The first step in any successful onboarding process is to make the right hire. To do this, you have to know your business and culture; you have to understand the position you're hiring for and find candidates whose skill sets will give them the greatest potential for success. Once the right person is selected, they need to be supported by a strong organizational structure with robust communication channels to help them understand where they fit in the company's framework. Their training should be up to date and on demand and include cross-training and test drives of tangential responsibilities. Finally, successful onboarding is ongoing; it doesn't end after the first few weeks or even the first few months. Continuous training, check-ins, and reviews should be baked in for at least the first year.