Now that you’ve attracted high-performing graduates and they’ve accepted your offer, it’s time for you to prepare how to onboard them to your organization! Employee onboarding is more than just an orientation and is extremely important. Especially for these recent graduates who have little to no experience of employment. Here are 5 things that you should do and one thing that you shouldn’t when onboarding fresh graduates.
5 Dos and 1 Don’t When Onboarding Fresh Graduates
Do: Give them a warm welcome
Fresh graduates usually feel awkward when they join an organization. How they can’t be? Everyone and everything is new to them. Giving a warm welcome to the newest member of your team makes them feel appreciated. This step also allows them to develop trust with your organization. Another benefit is that when fresh grads feel appreciated, they gain confidence in working for the company, in turn helping them become more productive.
A person who doesn’t feel welcome and appreciated will sooner or later leave your organization. And because of this experience, who knows what they’ll say about your organization? Taking care of them while they’re with you is essential not just because of their performance at work, but also because of how they could possibly affect your reputation and employer brand.
Do: Allow them to practice what they studied
Many graduates are already aware of this: it wouldn’t be possible for them to apply all the things that they studied for almost two decades when they start working. But, it doesn’t mean that what they learned would be entirely useless. Let them practice and share what they studied for these past years. They have knowledge and experiences that you and the other members of your organization may not have. And what they share can help you view matters from a different angle and get new ideas!
Do: Let them ask “stupid” questions
Simple information that easily comes to you will not be coming easily to your new hires. For example, things such as how to answer the phone, how to use the photocopying machine, or who is who are information that you know but your fresh hire wouldn’t. Some new employees are too shy or too embarrassed to ask these kinds of questions. What you could do is to assign them a mentor whom they could freely ask these things.
Do: Know that they need time to absorb information
With so many things to learn, you have to give your new employees time to absorb all the information. This method allows them to fully develop the skills and utilize the knowledge they need to tackle their tasks and responsibilities. When new employees fully understand what they need to do, they perform better and make fewer mistakes.
Do: Make them feel that they belong
According to Aristotle, “Man by nature, is a social animal.” The need to belong is further emphasized in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, where it comes just after physiological needs such as food and water, and safety needs. Provide opportunities for them to socialize with other employees, especially in a less formal and friendly setting. Fresh graduates thrive in this kind of environment, allowing them to be more inquisitive, responsive, and confident.
Don’t: Shut them down
If there’s one thing you absolutely shouldn’t do when onboarding fresh graduates, it’s to shut them down. Don’t discriminate against them just because they’re young and inexperienced. There are a lot of reasons why you should listen to your employees. If you continue ignoring your new hires because of their disadvantages, sooner or later they will go to greener pastures.
Having fresh graduates in your organization is a good way to cultivate talents and ensure your business’ pool of future leaders. Don’t miss out on their potential!
