Successfully Onboarding a New Hire
When onboarding a new hire, employers typically have several key expectations to ensure a smooth transition and alignment with company culture and goals. Here are the top five common expectations:
Plus I will share a tool with you, to be sure you put the “Right Aces in the Right Place”
1. Adaptability and Willingness to Learn
New hires are expected to quickly adapt to the company’s culture, processes, and expectations. This includes being open to learning new skills, systems, and ways of working. Flexibility in adjusting to changes and feedback is crucial.
As you are interviewing your new prospective hire, it’s also important to express this in an agreement. If they are not willing to create that agreement, it might be wise to seek another candidate.
2. Strong Communication Skills
Clear, effective communication is vital, whether it's with team members, supervisors, or clients. New hires should be proactive in asking questions, seeking clarification when needed, and providing updates on their work progress. Below are a few questions you can use during the interview process.
Tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex idea to someone who was unfamiliar with the topic. How did you ensure they understood?
How do you prefer to receive feedback from your supervisor or peers? How do you give constructive feedback?
Describe a situation where you had to collaborate with a difficult colleague or team member. How did you manage the communication to get the job done?
3. Professionalism and Responsibility
New employees are expected to demonstrate professionalism in their interactions and work ethic. This includes being punctual, meeting deadlines, taking responsibility for their tasks, and maintaining a positive attitude toward their work.
It’s important to lay these expectations out, in a written format for the new possible hire to see and read. This removes any miscommunication or confusion for what you are asking and looking for in their future role. Once read, have them agree to this by asking “Is this something you will agree to?”
Asking for the agreement, eliminates future challenges when asking for a signature on these agreements.
4. Teamwork and Collaboration
Being able to work well within a team is key. Employers expect new hires to collaborate effectively, contribute to group tasks, and support colleagues. This involves being cooperative, respectful, and helpful, especially in team-oriented environments. Similar to #2 above “Communication”, I have written 3 questions to ask to understand how your new prospective hire will be in these situations.
Can you give an example of a situation where you had to rely on other team members to succeed? How did you ensure that your collaboration was effective?
Have you ever gone out of your way to help a colleague or team member without being asked? What prompted you to do so, and what was the result?
Tell me about a time when your team had to make a collective decision, but your opinion differed from the majority. How did you handle that, and what was the outcome?
5. Problem-Solving and Initiative
New hires are often expected to take initiative and demonstrate problem-solving skills. Rather than relying on constant direction, they should be proactive in identifying challenges, proposing solutions, and taking steps to improve processes or overcome obstacles. This is a big challenge in our society today and well worth vetting before onboarding a new hire. Below are a few questions that will help in that
"Can you describe a time when you faced an unexpected challenge at work? How did you handle it?"
"Tell me about a time when you identified a problem that others overlooked. What did you do about it?"
"How do you prioritize multiple problems when they arise simultaneously?"
Expectations are a recipe for failure. In order to create solid working relationship and environment, it will be crucial to create specific agreements (written) with while onboarding your new hires. This builds a strong foundation for success in their roles, while relieving you of the added worry of how your new hire will work out.
A powerful tool to use, is the DISC Assessment. I have a basic assessment that I will give you, in a Powerful PDF version. Something you can use over and over. Go here and simply ask. https://www.stevekrivda.com/contact