• CrowdforJobs
• Jan 25, 2021
• 529 views

5 Tips For Your Virtual Onboarding Process

More jobs have become remote than ever due to the COVID19 pandemic, and it could be a while before you meet your new employees. If you have been operating as a remote company, now is the time to upgrade your virtual onboarding process.

Your new hires will need as many resources and tools as possible to handle their tasks in today’s challenging remote business landscape. Consequently, dynamic companies are refining their virtual onboarding approach for even better results.

Why Should You Upgrade Your Virtual Onboarding Process?

A well-structured virtual onboarding program will familiarize new hires with your company’s culture. In addition to making the employees feel welcomed, they will get the guidance and resources needed to succeed. In turn, you will get eager and enthusiastic new hires who will improve your firm’s bottom-line.

On the other hand, an ineffective virtual onboarding process typically results in a high turnover. Even if you hire the best professionals in their fields, they can fail to make an impact without sufficient support and training. Employees who don't feel welcomed in their new jobs can continue to take interviews, and you will have to use up additional time and money to hire replacements. 

To get the most out for your virtual onboarding process, start with building a solid foundation as discussed below:

How To Onboard New Jobs From Home Staff

If you are new to virtual onboarding, you can use the steps below to get started:

• Design a virtual onboarding process that includes set objectives. A standardized program eliminates confusion and clearly describes what is expected of team members and new employees. 

• Use video to train new hires. Online videos are powerful tools for conveying important information, and they will help your new staff learn how to do their job in a short time.

• Give your recruits the resources they need to succeed. Provide collaborative software, IT setup instructions for their work email and laptop, and access to project management applications for the employees to start working. 

• Establish ongoing check-ins. Regular check-ins will keep your new employees connected and engaged, but you should avoid overwhelming them with too many interactions.

The above steps will give you the basics of virtual onboarding. If you want to get better results from your remote onboarding program, you can follow the steps below:

5 Tips For Your New Virtual Onboarding Program 

The virtual onboarding tips described below will engage and excite your recruits and improve employee productivity:

1. Prepare For The Arrival Of New Recruits

Waiting until new employees' arrival to develop an onboarding program will only make the experience feel rushed. If you want to make recruits feel welcomed and valued, you should start the onboarding process as soon as the new hire accepts your job offer.

You can start by sending out welcome packages through the mail that include:

• Practical items with your company’s logo like water bottles, mugs, notebooks, and shirts

• Essential HR policies and documents to sign

• Company handbook 

• Onboarding program

A welcome kit will help you set the foundation for a positive workplace experience and show appreciation to your recruits. You will also excite and inspire your new employees into integrating into your company culture. You can also encourage the staff to share their free swag on social media to promote your brand.

2. Design And Share An Onboarding Agenda

A virtual onboarding schedule will set the pace for your new employees’ first two weeks. Clearly state the amount of time that recruits will spend participating in online meetings and reviewing policies and policies. You should also design detailed agendas that include time to watch training videos. 

An onboarding plan will help your new employees ease into their schedules and set the guidelines for collaboration with other team members. To ensure that the program is accessible, add it to Google Doc or any other project management tool.

3. Schedule Remote Training

The virtual onboarding process should include precise schedules for online training. You can create engaging training presentations using Google Slides and send links to online tutorials for the recruits to watch at their own pace.

Live video calls have become an excellent asset for remote companies to provide instruction. In addition to conferencing and webinar platforms, you will need to invest in cybersecurity systems to keep the training sessions safe. Cybersecurity threats are only becoming more widespread and severe as more companies move their operations online, which is why you need to protect your company’s IT infrastructure. 

4. Delegate Simple Jobs To Build Confidence

Once you have given your recruits the tools and resources to complete their jobs, you can send them easy tasks to measure the program's effectiveness. Encourage the new staff to send feedback in areas where they need clarification, and equip them with the right credentials to get online at any time. You can make adjustments where required to customize the onboarding process for each new hire. 

5. Designate A Welcome Buddy

An effective virtual onboarding process should include a human connection in the form of a welcome buddy. Pair each hire with an experienced team member, and encourage them to set virtual meetings. Your new employees will be anxious to start new jobs, but a trusted mentor can help them transition smoothly into their roles. The buddies will also describe your company culture better and help the recruits assimilate into the firm's systems.

Implement And Share These Virtual Onboarding Tips

Virtual onboarding is a long-term approach for providing new hires with the necessary tools and resources. These tips will help you design a positive experience that boosts productivity and improves retention. Use the best practices to create successful onboarding programs, share them with team members, and tell us how they work for your company.