Being the "new kid" at a job
is uncomfortable for anyone, no matter what their position or rank.
And most often it is the little things that tend to worry people - how
to work the phone system, turn on the computer, where the bathrooms
are. To make your new hires feel like part of your team from the get-go,
it's imperative that you have a "first-day plan of action"
in place to help them ease into the swing of things. Your goal? To make
them feel comfortable, welcome and give them a great first impression
of your organization and your team!
Tips
to get your new employees off to a super start:
Don't park people in Human Resources.
If there is paperwork to be filled out, have your new employee do it
in your office, or theirs. If they must visit Human Resources, escort
them up, and make sure they are taken care of graciously and efficiently.
Spending hours in Human Resources on the first day of a new job can
make people feel disconnected and uncomfortable.
Office, cubicle or desk- help your new
person settle in. Be sure to clean up the area where your new person
will be working. Flowers or some other departmental "welcome"
are a wonderful touch and greatly appreciated in a bare office. Show
your new person how to use the phone, turn on the computer, access email,
contact people internally and externally, and make sure he/she has a
copy of the employee phone list.
Use the "buddy system."
Choose one of your people to take on the role of "buddy" and
guide your new hire through his/her first day. It will be the buddy's
responsibility to show the new person where the amenities are (cafeteria,
break room, bathrooms, elevators, copy machines, etc.) and introduce
him/her to key people including peers, vice presidents, department heads,
and other managers.
Provide a "map" of your department
or floor. Often, large organizations are so complex, the danger
of getting lost in the halls is very real for new recruits! To offset
this problem, it helps to create a map of your floor, complete with
the location of everyone's offices, the bathrooms, the Xerox machine,
conference rooms, computer printers, coffee machines, recycling bins,
vending machines etc. You may want to have your creative department
design a "master map" that can be Xeroxed for new employees
whenever the need arises.
Treat your new employee to lunch.
Let him/her relax while you keep the conversation rolling and discuss
the general game plan for the next few weeks. Make sure he/she is aware
of any upcoming meetings, presentations, conference calls, or other
events. Give your new person a chance to ask questions, offer support
and encouragement, and let them know how glad you are they came on board!
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