11 Engaging Onboarding Activities for Your New Hires in 2024
Research shows that companies with a strong onboarding activities program can increase their new hire retention by 82% and new employee productivity by over 70%.
Onboarding activities are not just about filling out forms and attending training sessions. They can be engaging and fun, providing new hires with a warm welcome and a solid foundation for their journey with the company. This investment in the new employees’ initial experience is important for their satisfaction, productivity, and long-term commitment to the organization.
Contents
What are onboarding activities?
The importance of onboarding activities
11 onboarding activities for new hires
What are onboarding activities?
Onboarding activities are designed to help new employees integrate smoothly into a company. When a person starts a new job, they’re typically faced with a lot of new information: the company’s culture, their specific job duties, who their team members are, and the overall workings of the organization.
Onboarding activities aim to make this influx of information more manageable and ensure that new hires feel welcomed, valued, and prepared to start their work. These activities can range from formal processes like job orientation sessions, training programs, and HR paperwork to more informal aspects like team lunches or mentorship programs.
The goal of onboarding is to provide new employees with the tools and information for their jobs and help them become part of the company culture and team. This includes understanding company values, building relationships with colleagues, and acclimating to the workplace environment.
The importance of onboarding activities
Effective onboarding activities help new employees become productive and comfortable in their new roles quickly and efficiently. These activities provide a smooth transition into the company, offering long-term gains for both the employees and the organization. Here are some key benefits:
- A clear understanding of the role and responsibilities: Onboarding helps clarify what is expected of new hires in their roles, reducing confusion and aligning their efforts with the company’s goals. This clarity in roles and responsibilities helps employees focus and prioritize their tasks effectively from the very beginning of their stay at your company.
- Faster integration into company culture: New employees learn about the company’s values, norms, and behavioral expectations, helping them assimilate into the company culture faster. They start building a sense of belonging and successfully navigate social and professional interactions within the company.
- Improved job satisfaction, employee morale, and retention: When employees understand their role and feel part of the team, they tend to be more satisfied with their job. This leads to higher morale and reduces turnover, as employees are more likely to stay with a company where they feel valued and engaged.
- Awareness of resources and support systems: Onboarding introduces new hires to available resources and support systems, such as HR policies, IT support, and professional development opportunities. This knowledge empowers them to solve problems independently and access help when needed, promoting self-sufficiency and confidence.
- Development of professional relationships and networks: Through introductions to colleagues and mentors, onboarding facilitates the building of professional relationships. These networks can provide support, guidance, and opportunities for collaboration, enhancing the new employee’s ability to work effectively within the team.
- Boost in productivity and performance: With a thorough understanding of their role, company culture, and available resources, new hires can become productive more quickly. Proper onboarding reduces the learning curve and enables new employees to contribute effectively to their team’s goals sooner.
- Reduction in anxiety and stress: Starting a new job can be stressful. A structured onboarding process with engaging activities eases this transition, reducing anxiety by setting clear expectations. Put simply, it provides your new hires with a roadmap for success in the new environment.
11 onboarding activities for new hires
Making the onboarding process enjoyable is a great way to engage new employees right from the start and help reduce the anxiety and stress that often come with starting a new job. It’s also crucial for their integration and success within the company.
Here are some effective onboarding activities you can start implementing today:
1. Provide a welcome kit
Some companies literally roll out the red carpet for new hires, making them feel like celebrities on their first day. This could include a welcome sign, applause from team members, or even a small welcome ceremony.
Offering a welcome kit to new hires is a great way to make a positive first impression. Include essential items like a company handbook outlining the organization’s history, culture, policies, and values.
Company swag such as t-shirts, mugs, or notebooks aid in creating a sense of belonging. Instead of generic company merchandise, some firms offer personalized items like engraved pens, custom-made notebooks, or T-shirts with the new hire’s name or start date.
Include necessary technology like laptops, phones, or other tools specific to the role. These items not only equip the employees with the tools they need but also help them to feel immediately part of the team from day one.
2. Pair new employees with a mentor or buddy
A mentorship or buddy system pairs the new hire with an experienced colleague who acts as their go-to person for any queries or assistance. Get the buddy to schedule regular check-ins, introduce the new employee to other team members, and guide them through their initial projects and tasks.
This relationship helps new hires feel supported and understand the company’s workflows and social norms more quickly. It aids in building their professional network within the organization.
3. Help set clear, achievable goals for the new hire
Help the manager develop a structured plan that outlines specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for the first 30, 60, and 90 days.
In the initial 30 days, focus on orientation and integration. Interactive storytelling sessions about the company’s vision and culture and role-specific learning modules with clear objectives and deadlines are essential to rapid immersion.
In the second phase, assign a small, relevant project to be completed by the 60-day mark and encourage networking with colleagues across departments to enhance their understanding of the business. In the final 30 days, challenge them with a more complex task to test their acquired skills and facilitate self-reflection and future goal setting.
Regular feedback loops with the manager and HR are a key part of the 30 60 90 day plan, providing continuous guidance and support. A structured yet engaging approach to onboarding equips the new hires with the skills and networks for long-term success.
4. Organize social events and team-building activities
Plan informal gatherings like team lunches, coffee breaks, or after-work social events. Organizing team-building activities, such as group workshops or outdoor team challenges, can also foster teamwork and camaraderie. These events are vital for building relationships and helping new hires feel part of the team.
Some companies create themes for onboarding weeks, like a ‘space’ theme or ‘jungle’ adventure, with decorations, activities, and even themed lunches to make the onboarding process more engaging and enjoyable. Other organizations arrange escape room activities as part of the onboarding process, encouraging new hires to work together to solve problems and complete challenges.
5. Establish regular feedback sessions
Scheduling regular one-on-one feedback sessions between the new hire and their manager or mentor allows the new employee to ask questions, receive constructive feedback, and discuss their progress and any challenges they are facing.
Every two weeks, gather all the new hires for a casual meeting over coffee, either in-person or virtually. Encourage everyone to share their experiences, challenges, and successes in their new roles.
This setup creates a friendly atmosphere where new hires can learn from each other, feel part of a community, and be more open to sharing and receiving feedback. It’s also an excellent opportunity for them to provide insights into how the onboarding process is working for them. Another fun and effective activity is the “Goal Bingo.” At the start of their onboarding, give each new hire a “Bingo” card with various goals related to their role.
Include tasks like completing a specific training module, having lunch with someone from a different department, or presenting a small project. During the coffee chats, new hires can share their progress. This gamified approach makes feedback sessions interactive and gives new hires clear, fun goals to work towards.
HR tip
Regularly collect feedback from new hires about their onboarding experience. Use surveys or informal check-ins to understand their perspective. This feedback is invaluable for continuously improving and fine-tuning the onboarding process, ensuring it remains relevant, effective, and aligned with the needs of new employees.
Implementing changes based on this feedback demonstrates that the company values and acts upon employee input, enhancing overall engagement.
6. Create an interactive orientation program
Design an orientation program that goes beyond the basics. Start by mixing traditional information sessions with interactive activities. For instance, instead of just presenting the company’s history and values, turn it into a quiz game or a scavenger hunt where new hires work in teams to discover facts about the company. This not only makes learning about the company more enjoyable but also fosters teamwork and camaraderie among new employees.
Organize a casual meet-and-greet lunch with different team members, including leadership, in a relaxed setting. This helps new hires feel welcomed and provides an opportunity to build relationships outside the formal work environment.
By blending informative sessions with interactive and social elements, you create an orientation program that is not only informative but also enjoyable and memorable.
7. Facilitate job-specific training
Instead of just having new hires sit through lectures or watch training videos, get them involved in real work tasks right away. For example, after a brief overview of their job responsibilities, pair them up with a more experienced colleague who can guide them through actual projects, showing them how the work is done in a practical setting. This ‘learning by doing’ approach helps new employees understand their role much better because they’re actively participating, not just passively listening.
Another great method is to use interactive and digital tools for training. This could be online courses that include quizzes and interactive scenarios or even virtual reality simulations for more complex tasks. These tools make learning more dynamic and can often be more memorable than traditional methods.
The key is to keep the training practical, relevant, and interactive so new hires are actively engaged and can easily see how their new skills apply to their everyday work.
HR tip
Use digital platforms and HR software to personalize the onboarding experience. Tools like personalized learning paths in training modules and automated systems for tracking progress can cater to individual needs and learning styles. This tech-driven approach allows HR to deliver a more tailored and efficient onboarding experience, making new hires feel recognized as individuals.
8. Implement a ‘first-week’ schedule
Start by outlining each day of the first week with key sessions, such as orientation, training modules, and team introductions. Also include interactive elements like a team breakfast or a buddy lunch, where the new employee can informally meet and chat with their colleagues. Incorporate short, guided tours of different departments to give a broader understanding of the company.
Pepper in some downtime, allowing the new hire to absorb information and settle in. A checklist of goals and tasks for the week encourages a sense of accomplishment as they tick each one off. This blend of planned activities and social interactions makes the first week comprehensive yet enjoyable, paving the way for a smooth start and providing a sense of purpose.
9. Conduct a memorable company tour
Turn your company tour into a fun and interactive experience by adopting a storytelling approach and incorporating interactive elements. Instead of just walking through the office and pointing out locations, the guide (a charismatic team member) can share interesting anecdotes about the company, its culture, and its history as they move from one area to another.
They could highlight quirky traditions, notable achievements, or fun facts about different departments. To make it more interactive, they could involve the new hires in small activities at various stops. For instance, a quick team introduction in the marketing department, a mini-challenge in the sales area, or a hands-on demonstration in the product development zone. This turns the tour into a special storytelling journey for the new employee.
10. Arrange a ‘meet the executives’ session
To make this session more interactive and memorable than a standard meet-and-greet, organize it as a ‘fireside chat’ where new hires can interact with executives in a relaxed, conversational setting.
Instead of formal presentations, encourage an open dialogue where executives share their personal experiences, insights about the company’s vision and culture, and lessons learned throughout their careers. Allow new hires to submit questions beforehand or during the session, addressing topics they are curious about, like career growth, company strategies, or industry trends.
Adding a light, informal activity, like a shared lunch or coffee break, can further ease the atmosphere, making it easier for new hires to engage and connect with the company’s leadership on a personal level.
11. Offer a platform for self-introduction
Encourage new employees to introduce themselves through an email introduction, a post on the company’s internal social network, or a brief presentation during a team meeting.
Self-introduction is more engaging in a relaxed setting where they can share about themselves beyond just their professional background.
One approach is to host a ‘New Hire Showcase’ event, where each new employee is given a few minutes to present something unique about themselves – in the form of a short PowerPoint presentation, a fun video, or a series of photographs. Encourage them to share their hobbies, interests, or fun facts along with their professional journey.e
This helps the team learn about new members in a more personal way and allows new hires to express their individuality and feel genuinely seen and heard by their new colleagues. This inclusive and creative approach contributes to building a positive and welcoming team environment.
Key takeaway
Effective onboarding activities are essential for integrating new hires into a company, as they significantly improve retention and productivity. These activities help new employees understand the company’s culture, clarify their roles and responsibilities, and provide a sense of belonging.
Onboarding processes can be creative and engaging, turning potentially dry procedures into interactive and fun experiences. For instance, some companies gamify the onboarding process with missions and rewards, making it a more enjoyable and memorable start for new employees.
An in-depth orientation program that mixes information with interactive elements helps in retaining important company information in a fun way. Job-specific training, especially when hands-on and interactive, ensures that new hires are learning and applying their knowledge practically.
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