With Q1 less than three weeks away, many companies are finalizing their strategic plans and hiring goals for the new year. New budgets, new organizational goals, growth initiatives, and end-of-year employee turnover make Q1 a great time to ramp up hiring efforts. While recruiting, interviewing, and making offers are obvious steps in the process, there’s one critical component that often gets overlooked: onboarding.
Gallup polls reveal that only 12% of employees strongly agree their organization does a great job with new hire process, and just 29% of new hires feel fully prepared and supported to excel in their role afterward. Can this even be considered onboarding?
On the flip side, the Brandon Hall Group found that a strong onboarding process improved new hire retention by 82% and improved the productivity of new hires by over 70%. These statistics highlight the undeniable value of a thoughtful, well-executed onboarding strategy.
Effective onboarding does more than welcome new employees—it sets the tone for their success, satisfaction, and long-term commitment. Companies that prioritize this step are better positioned to retain top talent and get their employees engaged. As 2025 approaches, it’s time to ensure your onboarding process isn’t just functional but exceptional. Gallup offers a long and insightful article that can help your company craft an exceptional onboarding experience, linked here. We have summarized key tips below.
Extend the Onboarding Journey
Onboarding isn’t just a one-day orientation or a checklist of forms to complete. To truly integrate employees into your organization, think of onboarding as a year-long journey. This extended process should include regular check-ins, ongoing learning opportunities, and feedback loops to ensure employees feel supported and engaged long after their start date.
Align Onboarding with Your Employee Value Proposition (EVP)
Your onboarding process should reflect the promises you make during recruitment. Employees expect alignment between what was advertised and what they experience in their role. From pay and role clarity to culture and career growth opportunities, alignment builds trust and sets the foundation for long-term success.
Answer the Five Key Questions
Every onboarding process should address these essential questions:
What do we believe in around here? Help them understand your organization’s culture, values, and mission.
What are my strengths? Highlight their unique talents and how they contribute to the team.
What is my role? Provide clear expectations and show how their role aligns with organizational goals.
Who are my partners? Introduce them! Encourage team connections and build trust among colleagues.
What does my future here look like? Discuss career development plans early to keep them motivated and engaged.
Immerse Employees in Your Culture
Showcase your organization's culture by actively demonstrating the values and behaviors that shape its environment. Allow new hires to witness these values in action, helping them feel connected to the team and to feel a sense of belonging from day one.
Empower Managers
Managers play a very critical role in onboarding success. Train them to personalize the process based on individual roles and strengths. When managers take an active role in onboarding, employees are 3.4 times as likely to strongly agree their onboarding process was exceptional.
Make Onboarding a Shared Responsibility
From leadership to teammates, everyone should play a role in creating a welcoming and supportive environment. Encourage teams to actively welcome new members. Exceptional onboarding requires effort from all levels of the organization.
Leverage Onboarding Analytics
Use data to track the effectiveness of your onboarding process. Surveys, performance metrics, and engagement levels can reveal what’s working and where adjustments are needed. A data-driven approach ensures continuous improvement and helps reduce ramp-up time for new employees.
Regularly Evaluate and Adapt
Use employee feedback and performance data to refine and adapt your approach, ensuring it remains effective and relevant.
An exceptional onboarding process doesn’t just set the stage for a great first day—it lays the groundwork for years of productivity, satisfaction, and retention. Make onboarding a priority in 2025.
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