An effective onboarding process can help new employees quickly acclimate to your company’s procedures and organizational culture. With access to essential information and a mentor, new hires can manage expectations and begin contributing immediately. Consider incorporating the following tips as you welcome new team members and create a nurturing environment that promotes success from day one.

Offer Preboarding

Try beginning the onboarding process as soon as you hire new employees. Even before orientation, offer access to the HR portal or department FAQs, and encourage new hires to ask questions. You could also provide welcoming, branded swag baskets as you build excitement about joining your team.

Complete Paperwork

If possible, provide advance access to paperwork packets or digital forms, and encourage new hires to complete essential payroll and benefits documents as soon as possible. New hires can then spend their first day learning the job and building relationships rather than completing administrative tasks.

Build a Resource Library

While you may encourage new employees to ask questions to clarify information, offer a resource library, too. It could include your company’s history, workflow processes and training opportunities. A resource library demonstrates your commitment to knowledge, growth, and empowerment, and it might encourage new employees to begin contributing to the company right away.

Schedule Multi-Person Onboarding

Rather than starting new employees individually, schedule an onboarding day for all new hires. This strategy encourages new employees to develop relationships from day one. A multi-person onboarding day may also allow your company to maximize time and resources. And you could introduce new hires to leadership and a variety of departments, which increases connectivity and builds a knowledge base.

Provide Mentors

A work mentor can boost engagement and set the stage for collaborative teamwork. Yet only half of all American workers have access to a mentor at work, reports the Pew Research Center. You could elevate your company and personalize the onboarding process by offering mentorship. A supportive colleague may help new employees feel connected to your company while sharing specific job processes, responsibilities and insights that promote success.

Develop a Long-Term Timeline

In addition to the initial onboarding process, consider adopting an ongoing timeline with check-ins at 30, 60, 90 and 180 days. This long-term approach may help new employees feel comfortable and happy as they grow into their roles. During check-ins, new employees can ask questions, share concerns, or clarify responsibilities. And you can acknowledge contributions, suggest additional training,, and manage expectations.

Track Progress

For ultimate organization, document the steps new employees complete during the onboarding process. With accurate recordkeeping, your new hires can receive comprehensive training. A smooth tracking process may also prevent missing documents and skipped steps that create additional problems in the future.

Create Onboarding Success

As your company changes and grows, remember you might have to adjust your processes based on feedback from current employees. Everyone in the organization, including new hires, can achieve success with the right strategic onboarding tips.