The first few weeks for a new starter are crucial to making them the best fit.

Many companies are now working on a hybrid model where staff work from home some days and some in the office. For well-established employees, this model works extremely well as they’ll know the best days to come in and work with the team and when they’ll work better at home. But how do you onboard a new starter in this hybrid environment and can they lose out by working from home in their first few weeks?

Let’s start with the basics. Good onboarding is crucial for new starters. It can be very overwhelming trying to get the hang of a new job, new office, new culture and new colleagues all at once. So making the process as easy as possible lets the person know that they’re just a new cog in the machine. You want to make them feel valued and at ease.

So how can you make the most out of your onboarding process?

1. Build a learning library

A learning library is a fancy term for ‘documents that are important to the new starter’. It can include things such as a handover note, a procedures manual, an introduction to the company and colleagues and anything you think might be helpful. Make sure everything is written in clear and concise language and try to avoid overwhelming them.

2. Peer mentoring

Assigning your new starter a buddy for their first few weeks can be a great way to help them. This buddy can answer questions that they might be a bit nervous to ask anyone else and can also help them feel more settled as they get used to your ways of working.

3. Get the team involved

A new colleague means changes in the dynamics of how your team works. So get your team involved in the onboarding. This can be a great way to introduce everyone and start to build relationships. Don’t forget the introductory email too!

4. Consider in the office onboarding

There’s a lot to learn when starting a new job and some of these things can’t be delivered over video calls. It might be worthwhile asking your new starter to come into the office for their first fortnight. This can help them settle and learn the ropes faster. It can also save you time in the long run.

5. Get and give feedback

The only way to ensure your onboarding process is to ask for feedback. Listen to what the new starters are telling you and implement their feedback. As well as that, give your own feedback on how they’re engaging with the process.