Onboarding guide: How to create a successful onboarding process with video
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In a world where company culture is becoming increasingly crucial for attracting and retaining top employees, onboarding plays a central role. When a new employee steps into the workplace for the first time, it's more than just an introduction to their new job. It's also a glimpse into the company's values, the team they'll be working with, and the expectations placed on them. The HR department faces the challenge of ensuring that this introduction is as seamless and informative as possible.
For many companies, the answer to this challenge has been to embrace video as a central component in the onboarding process. By using video, companies can offer a more engaging and effective introduction to the workplace. This not only helps new employees feel like part of the team quickly but also ensures they feel welcome and valued from day one. But how can HR ensure that video-based onboarding really works? And how can companies best utilize this platform to introduce employees to the company culture? In this article, we will explore these questions and provide concrete steps for creating a successful onboarding experience with the help of video, from preboarding to the first day and beyond.
From Preboarding to First Day: Steps in the Onboarding Process
Preboarding is a critical part of the onboarding process. Before the new employee even sets foot in the workplace, there are important steps to be taken to ensure a smooth transition. Preboarding is about preparing the new hire for their new role and company culture. It can include everything from sending employment contracts to giving them access to digital platforms where they can learn about the company.
At the introduction of the new employee, video plays a crucial role. By showing team members and company leadership on screen, new hires can get a sense of the people they will be working with. This creates a sense of belonging and community. Additionally, video can be used to clearly and consistently communicate the company's history, values, and expectations to all new employees. This reduces the risk of misunderstandings and helps them quickly get into their tasks.
Good Onboarding at a Distance: How to Succeed in a Digital Age
In today's digital world, where many employees can work remotely, it's more important than ever to have a structured onboarding process that works regardless of where the new hire is located. Digital onboarding has become a necessity, especially considering the current global challenges.
Onboarding at a distance can be a challenge,usin the right tools and resources, it can be just as effective, if not more so, than traditional onboarding. Video-based onboarding is perfect for this purpose. The new employee can watch introductory videos, meet their new team virtually, and even undergo training online. All of this can be done at the new hire's own pace, giving them the flexibility to balance onboarding with other personal and professional commitments.
Checklist for Successful Onboarding: Ensuring a Smooth Start for Every New Hire
Every new employee has unique needs and expectations when starting a new job. Therefore, it's essential to have a structured introduction phase that can be adapted to each individual's needs. An onboarding checklist can be an invaluable tool for HR to ensure that nothing is missed during this critical period.
This list can include everything from ensuring the new hire has access to all necessary digital platforms to introducing them to the company's culture and values. By following this checklist, HR can ensure that every new hire receives the support and resources they need to quickly become productive employees.
Optimizing the Introduction Phase: The Key to Engaged and Productive Employees
Having a successful introduction is just the beginning. To ensure that new colleagues continue to be engaged and effective, this phase must be constantly optimized and updated. This can involve regularly collecting feedback from new hires, updating introduction materials based on this feedback, and constantly looking for new ways to improve the introduction.
With the help of digital tools, HR can easily track and measure the success of their introduction program. This can include everything from seeing how long it takes for a new hire to become fully productive to measuring their satisfaction with the introduction phase. By constantly striving for improvement, companies can ensure that they continue to attract and retain top employees.
Here is a suggestion on what an onboarding could look like and where video fits into the process:
Preboarding: Preparations before the new employee starts
Send welcome messages and necessary information: Send a personal welcome message to the employee with information about their first day, schedule, and what to expect.
Provide access to introductory videos: Ensure that the new colleague has access to introductory videos that provide an overview of the company, its values, and company culture.
Grant access to internal digital platforms: Ensure that the new hire has access to all necessary digital platforms and tools that they will use in their work.
First day: The new employee's first impression
Welcome video message: Start the first day with a personal welcome via video from the company's leadership or closest colleagues to create a sense of belonging and community.
Introduction to the team: Use video to introduce the new colleague to their team members and their roles. This helps create a sense of collaboration and integration.
Communicate the company's history and values: Use video to clearly communicate the company's history, core values, and expectations in a consistent manner.
Engaging digital resources: Interaction and engagement
Interactive introductory videos: Create interactive introductory videos that include quizzes and questions to ensure that the new person actively participates and understands the material.
Virtual training and exercises: Use video to deliver training and exercises that the new colleague can perform online. This can help them quickly get started and feel confident in their tasks.
Continuous feedback and improvement: Adapt the onboarding process
Encourage feedback through video: Ask the new employee for feedback on video-based onboarding. This can help HR and production companies improve and adapt the video material based on real experiences.
Measure and evaluate success: Use digital tools to measure and evaluate the success of the onboarding program. It can include measuring the time it takes for the new employee to become productive and their satisfaction with the introduction phase.
Ongoing onboarding: Continue to support and educate
Provide continuous education via video: Continue to offer video-based support and education to help the new employee develop and adapt to the company culture in the long term.
Continuously improve the process: Continue to collect feedback and update onboarding materials based on new insights and needs to ensure that the onboarding process remains relevant and effective over time.
By following this checklist, you can create a successful onboarding process with the help of video, from preparations before the new employee starts to their ongoing development within the company. This will contribute to new employees feeling welcome, engaged, and ready to become productive members of the team.
Three Tips for Successful Video-Based Onboarding
Structured Preboarding with Video: Before the employee even starts, ensure they have access to introductory videos. These can include an overview of the company, its values, and a preview of their upcoming tasks.
Engaging Digital Resources: Use video to make the onboarding process more interactive. Well-produced videos can help new employees feel more engaged and connected to the company from day one.
Continuous Feedback through Video: Encourage new employees to provide feedback on video-based onboarding. This can help HR and production companies constantly improve and adapt the video material based on real experiences.
Conclusion: Onboarding as an Ongoing Process with Video at the Center
It's essential to remember that onboarding doesn't end after the first week or even the first month. To truly integrate new employees into the company culture and ensure they are productive members of the team, onboarding must be seen as an ongoing process. Videos, which are both motivating and informative, play a central role in this process. By constantly offering video-based support and education, companies can ensure that every new hire feels valued and engaged in the long term.