Glossary: HR & Recruiting Definitions
Onboarding refers to the process of introducing and integrating a new employee into an organization. The process begins when a job offer has been accepted and ends when the new hire is competent in the organizational processes and performing as expected in their new role.
What should onboarding include?
Onboarding consists of varied activities, and each organization determines how long it lasts. Most commonly, onboarding new employees takes a few months, but in some cases, it can last a few weeks or as long as a year.
A successful onboarding needs to provide a new employee with all the information and resources they will need to acclimatize as smoothly as possible into the organization and their new role. Here are some topics to cover while onboarding new employees:
How to prepare for onboarding new employees
Onboarding also includes the preparation and setup for the new employee’s first day. Here is what should be done beforehand:
What happens in virtual onboarding?
These days it is not uncommon for new employees to participate in virtual onboarding. In many ways, virtual onboarding is not so different from in-person onboarding, but a few extra steps should be considered:
1. Set up new hires with essential hardware
Make sure new employees have laptops, headphones, and whatever else they need to participate in the virtual onboarding and start working from day one.
2. Send a company welcome pack
Help new employees feel like part of the team from the start by sending them small welcome gifts like company-branded notepads, pens, or mugs.
3. Have new employees fill out paperwork ahead of time
Send out HR-related documents before to save everyone’s time and demonstrate your company is well organized.
4. Include opportunities for small group or one-on-one conversations
Virtual onboarding means missing out on opportunities for organic socializing. Integrate break-out rooms for smaller groups or individuals to get to know each other. Provide ice-breaker questions or conversation topics to make it easier.
5. Make a buddy system
Pair a new employee with an existing employee so they have a designated person to answer their questions and help navigate the ins and outs of the company.
What is the difference between onboarding and training?
While onboarding and training sometimes take place at the same time, they are not the same. Here are some of their main differences:
Onboarding
Training
Simplify your hiring process and workflow
Understand how to create job ads that actually work. Leverage winning strategies to best promote ads. Find the ideal candidate faster.
Already have an account? Sign in
Similar terms
Similar terms
Candidate Experience
Candidate experience refers to how job seekers perceive their interactions with an employer throughout an organization’s sourcing, recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding processes.
ViewApplicant Tracking System
An Applicant Tracking System, or ATS, is digital software that assists in the recruiting and hiring process.
ViewTry it today.
Get more applications with less effort
Free to use
Easy to set up
10+ job boards