Stepping into a new organization can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking for a new hire. A new hire may have considerable education and experience around the job you hired them for, but this is probably the first time they've seen the job from your company's perspective. This is where an effective employee onboarding and training program can come in - serving as the Rosetta stone to help new hires translate their current skills and knowledge into learning how they can be effective within the new organization.

Onboarding is the systematic and purpose-driven introduction of new hires to the essential aspects of the company: its culture, processes, policies, and job-specific nuances. It's not just about administrative paperwork (though paperwork is important), but rather about making the new employee feel welcome, valued, and part of the organization. How easily can new employees complete their government-required forms and understand + register for their new benefits?

Training, on the other hand, dives deeper into the functional aspects of the organization. It's about imparting the required skills or enhancing existing ones, ensuring that the employee is well-equipped to carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently. Does your company have a special way of communicating across the org or conducting meetings or writing machine learning code?

• Early Impressions Matter: A structured onboarding process ensures new hires feel welcomed and valued. Positive early experiences can set the tone for an employee's entire journey with the company.

• Increased Productivity: Efficient training means employees don't have to go through a prolonged period of trial and error. They get up to speed faster, benefiting both the individual and the company. Hiring a new sales rep? The average time to productivity for a new sales rep can ~3-6 months. Both the rep and the company benefit from shortening that timeframe. 

• Reduced Turnover: Employees are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their growth and makes them feel included. Reduced turnover translates to cost savings and sustained team dynamics.

• Consistency: Training ensures consistency in processes and standards across the board. Everyone is aligned with the company's expectations and quality standards.

• Talent Pipeline: Onboarding and continuous training are foundational in grooming future leaders. Employees who are well-integrated and trained from the outset are better positioned to take on leadership roles down the line.

Consider a rapidly growing SaaS company that's expanding its team. They've just hired Lucy, a software developer.

On her first day, Lucy isn’t just handed a laptop and left to fend for herself. Instead, she’s introduced to a structured onboarding process as well as a 30/60/90-day set of goals. She's given a tour of the office, introduced to her teammates, briefed on company culture, and walked through administrative necessities like IT setup and benefits enrollment.

Over the next few weeks, Lucy undergoes role-specific training. She’s introduced to the company’s coding standards, the software tools they use, and the projects she'll be contributing to. She's also paired with a mentor who assists her with any questions.

Three months in, Lucy feels confident in her role and has become a productive team member. Thanks to her smooth transition, she already sees a long-term future with the company.

• Software Solutions: Platforms like BambooHR can streamline the onboarding and training processes, offering digital solutions for paperwork, training modules, and tracking progress.

• Books: "The First 90 Days" by Michael D. Watkins is a fantastic guide for new employees as well as hiring managers. It offers insights into successfully transitioning into new roles.

• Your Current Employees: Who better to help craft an onboarding and training program than the people who have gone through the process and have significant experience within your company? Senior employees, especially those working across departments, normally have an advantage on how a new hire can effectively and efficiently learn to navigate the organization versus someone in a purely administrative role.