Blog Post: Onboarding, why it is so critical to employee success.....

The first day at a new job is very much like starting a new school: who am I going to have lunch with, will people like me, will I like the people, etc. Let's face it, you already selected the job because you are excited about what you will be doing. The recruiter & hiring manager have done there part to bring you on board. That first day can be unsettling. It starts with new hire paperwork (lots of paperwork!), having your picture taken, being walked around and meeting all the important (or not so important) people, logging into your computer (if IT did their job correctly), setting up your voice mail and all the other stuff that goes with the first day.

Have you ever had a great onboarding experience? One that was really memorable. I believe the first day of employment tells you so much about the employer. How much do they value employees? Do they want to create a work experience? Do they really know what it takes to get someone started? What is their culture like? What is their environment like? I had a great onboarding experience with my last company (here's a hint, this blog is hosted by them!) and it happened before I ever started working.

It was early summer 2006 and I was 4 days from starting (we travelled to Phoenix, AZ for orientation). I received a call from the person who conducted my recruitment and she asked me if I would like to go with the local sales team to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat & Detroit Pistons. Let's see, go see the Heat clinch an NBA Finals berth, watch D-Wade and company beat up the Pistons and meet my new team? It was a quick answer, YES!

The game was great as the Heat romped, D-Wade was awesome and we sat in a center court suite the CEO rented for the game as a reward for the teams outstanding performance. More importantly, I had the opportunity to meet each and every member of team in a relaxed environment and see how close this team was. It was an eye opening experience. I immediately formed relationships with people I now consider friends from that 1st interaction. I felt incredible pride, along with the team, when we saw the center court ads display and when they were shown one the video screen.

The Heat won, I had a great time and I was excited about getting on a plane and going for a great orientation program. My first day in the office was like I had been there months as I already had a lunch buddy and knew all the staff. I had a great 2+ years with this company and will always remember the 1st experience I had as an employee as it was a gauge for my entire employment experience.

Before accepting your next job offer, ask what the onboarding & orientation process is like. If nothing else, it will let you know who to have lunch with on the 1st day!

If you are interested joining a great company that is growing, PRC might be the right place for you. We are currently hiring for a new program in our Tampa location that is selling & managing Pay Per Click advertising campaigns. Just in case you are wondering, we have a great orientation program that sets you up for success. If you are interested, please click here to learn more.