There’s nothing worse for a new employee than to worry about showing up early and making a great first impression, only to find their employer hasn’t prepared for their first day. [3] X Research source
Work with your department or company to come up with key places to include on the tour.
That employee should do work similar to what the new hire does. They can also offer “unofficial” advice, such as how certain managers prefer to communicate or who throws the best holiday party.
You should provide a printed manual so the trainee can take notes as they go. In addition, email them a digital copy of the training manual, employee handbook, and other materials. That way, they can always refer to the email if they don’t have the hard copies handy. [8] X Research source
Make sure they have all necessary contact info for anyone within or outside of the company (such as vendors or clients).
In order to prevent overwhelming them, let them know that these helpful resources are at their disposal, but not required reading.
Working in time in the schedule to get know the trainee will help ease their nerves and encourage them to become part of the team.
Schedule 5 to 10 minute breaks between topics to help them digest information without getting overwhelmed.
Most people learn better by doing instead of listening. While you shouldn’t assign a task that will make or break the company, don’t ask them to do something menial. Show them that you have confidence in their abilities.
Ask the trainee periodically if you’re going too fast or too slow. They might try to hide the fact that they’re lost, so do your best to read their body language. [18] X Research source A longer training period might take extra resources in the short term, but a thoroughly trained employee is worth a momentary dip in productivity.
For example, you might say, “You finished that assignment way ahead of schedule. I have to admit, I thought I’d find some errors when it came in so fast, but there were none to be found. Great job!”
If necessary, soften criticism by saying things like, “It would be easier if you did this,” or “Don’t worry - it’s an easy mistake to make. ” More often than not, new hires want to hear constructive feedback sooner rather than later. Months down the line, you don’t want to leave an employee wondering why you didn’t correct their mistake earlier. [22] X Research source
Depending on person and the industry, it could take up to a year to settle into a new job.
