The first day in a new job can be both nerve-racking and exciting, with all those ‘what-if’s’ running through our heads – what if people don’t like me, what if I screw up in front of my colleagues, what if I have made a mistake.
If you are ever in a position to hire an employee to help you run your business, you want to make life as easy for them as possible. With a welcoming approach, not only will you put them at ease, but you also stand a better chance of them sticking around for the long term.
Here are a few things you might focus on.
#1: Find ways to eliminate first-day jitters
Your employee will probably be nervous when they step through the doors of your business premises, so be there to welcome them with a handshake and a smile. Introduce him or her to the other people on your team, and perhaps ask another employee to show around the new person.
Have a meeting with your new employee early on in the day to get a handle on how they are feeling. If they do have any questions or worries, you will then be able to help them accordingly.
Because of these small steps, your new employee should feel less nervous throughout the day, as by being welcomed and cared for, they should feel more comfortable than they did at the beginning.
#2: Streamline the induction process
There is a lot to do on the first day of a new job, for both you and your employee, such as filling-up paperwork, reading employee handbooks and policies, and on-the-job training to help your employee get up to speed with business processes.
Make life easier for you and your new employee by using professionally designed on-boarding software to streamline the induction process. This will get your employee up to speed quickly and efficiently, and will give them the tools to hit the ground running in your business.
Read this guide on how to choose the best onboarding software to find out more.
#3: Gradual transition into the workplace
Before you hand your new employee complicated jobs to do, give them a chance to ease into their new post with smaller, easier-to-manage tasks. They will become less overwhelmed this way, and consequently, they will be less inclined to quit your business early because they don’t feel ready for the job they have been given.
You might also assign another employee to mentor your new hire, as they will be able to offer assistance when needed, with advice and support on anything that might appear difficult to your new hire.
Final Thoughts
Those first-day jitters should be replaced by second-day feelings of calm if you take steps to make life easier for your new employee. Do let us know your ideas too. Whether as an employer or an employee, you might have the experience to help any of our readers who are about to take on new staff, so please add to our comments section below.