Starting any new position can be daunting, but doing so remotely can add to those first day jitters.
At Olikka we have not let working remotely stop us from creating great first impressions with new starters - we have used the predicament to create an even better experience.
Wanting to make sure that onboarding anyone new to the team was seamless not only for the newbie, but for the entire team was definitely a strong consideration.
Here are my top 6 tips on how to elevate your remote onboarding experience plus a couple of recent new staff induction stories.
My top 6 tips are:
- Reduce the Distance by Getting Connected.
Embrace remote work life and use it to your advantage.
We are lucky that there are so many great communicative and collaboration tools that can aid great communication and get those initial introductions into a team going.
Set up individual Teams/Chime chats, arrange a virtual intro lunch or drink, reach out and connect through Slack.
- Keep it personal - Being remote means a little extra love.
Whether your the person being inducted or welcoming someone into the fold - make it personal. Creating those connections and building rapport is crucial in your first few months. With the addition of doing that all remote, everyone needs to be conscious that going the extra mile will make all the difference to a newbies experience.
Find out commonalities and check in regularly. It’s important to be aware that no matter if your new or old, working remotely can be more mentally taxing.
- Get organised.
If your the one doing the induction - make it as easy as possible by pre-arranging meetings with key people they need to connect within the business. This will help build those relationships early and they will feel connected sooner rather than later.
On the flip side, It’s your first day at a new org - you need to be prepared. Make sure you have a good working space, internet connection and are ready to rock any video chats.
- Safety is still number one.
It's essential we cover off OHS, both from the organisation and the individual. Just because work is now at home doesn't mean safety and well being should be forgotten.
Check your personal set up - Do you have everything you need to excel in your new role? If you are running through OHS with your newbie and notice they might need some tweaks - how can you as a business help?
- Be Authentic.
Your onboarding experience should be an authentic reflection of the organisation. Embrace quirks, differences and embrace your style; this also goes for individuals. Inductions don't have to be all corporate and overly formal if that's not the way you roll.
- Seek out feedback.
Even the best onboarding strategies have room for improvement. Always ask for feedback. Look to identify areas for growth as well as an understanding of strengths - Continue to enhance and tweak your processes. Olikka prides itself on having the best-in-class experience, make sure you do too.
Simon's Experience (Technical Specialist):
"It's always daunting starting a new job, however amidst COVID-19 with other employees being stood down, benched or working remotely for the first time it was downright nerve-wracking. Olikka made that worry disappear. Leading up to my start date Beccs(Olikka Recruitment) made contact almost daily, not just to provide updates on a shifting work environment, but to also check in on how I was getting on with wrapping up my old job. We developed a strong bond over that period and even discussed what we had planned for the weekends.
The week before I started, fellow teammate Dave Minnelli reached out to introduce himself and to make sure I was set for my first day. Olikka extended an invited to the team meeting for Friday virtual drinks, as i was due to start the following Monday. This initial meet and greet provided comfort and a fantastic first impression of Olikka, including a great culture, fun environment and truly supportive colleagues.
Come Monday the onboarding experience went smoothly. People and Culture Manager, Lauren provided a thorough induction while also making me feel very welcome, all done via video calls. Ever since that first work drinks I have felt connected, even without having met anyone face to face.
The first week was full of one on one video calls, taking the water cooler chat to the next virtual level, everyone made time for a chat regardless of how busy they were. What stood out is that everyone was open, friendly and genuine, but more so everyone was aligned on work ethic, the company and fellow team members.
Not too long after starting, I received a welcome pack full of Olikka goodies. A branded t-shirt, keep cup, drink bottle and my favourite drink which was a thoughtful touch, just another way of making me feel welcome and part of the Olikka Family.
It has been a remarkable onboarding experience."
Emily’s Experience (Commercial Manager):
“When Victoria introduced restrictions on workplaces forcing staff to work from home, it was the week before I was due to start at Olikka. Luckily for me, Olikka's Directors had already introduced work from home measures and staff were settled in that routine as they’d been working that way for 2 weeks already.
Knowing that, i had now concerns about onboarding - I knew Olikka were ready and able. The first few days were, funnily enough, like starting any other new job. A flurry of activity setting up access, liaising with HR and going through an OHS induction (albeit for my home office!).
The next few weeks involved (for my role) getting across the numbers, meeting our advisors and setting up intro meetings internally. Again, not unlike a normal few weeks. The fact that I was sitting at home, and not in a new office, actually made very little difference.
The Olikka team are obviously used to working with technology (and those of us that might be slightly less proficient than their expert status colleagues) and the whole experience was seamless. Meeting people for the first time one on one on a Teams' video call could potentially be awkward but Olikka team are so comfortable with the technology they use, it was actually enjoyable.
I cannot imagine having on-boarded and feeling so comfortable with a team of 50+ (despite only having met 5 face to face during the interview process) at any other business. Mike & Ross have developed an extraordinary culture of high performers that live and breathe 'team'. I just can't wait to feel the energy of the business live and face to face.”
There’s no right or wrong way of inducting someone into your organisational family - be authentic, align to your trademarks and culture and you’re well on your way.
First impressions count, be honest and try and make it memorable!
