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Helpful Tips for Training a New Hire Quicker

Training is an investment – there’s no question about that. But if it’s done right, you’ll see a consistent positive ROI. This is especially true in the case of new hires, as their first days, weeks, and months on the job can make or break their future with your company.

Effective training is crucial for making new team members feel welcome and invested in your organization. It’s also a great opportunity to communicate your company culture early on and ensure alignment on long-term goals and plans.

To streamline your new hire training process:

Follow an outline.

No matter how well you know your business, you can’t just wing it. Be crystal clear about what you want your new team member to understand. Document this in a training outline and share it with everyone involved.

  • Include information on who and where they should go if they have questions or need additional information.
  • This will not only benefit your new hire, but you won’t have to reinvent the wheel. With every subsequent hire, you can modify your template.

Break training down into manageable pieces.

Look for logical ways to break new hire training into bite-sized, manageable segments. Your trainees are probably nervous and feeling a bit overwhelmed. Prevent information overload.

  • Avoid long, uninterrupted classroom sessions. Intersperse shorter ones with breaks, tours, or other activities. Even if this seems counterproductive at first, retention levels will be greater in the long run.

Make sure you have the right tools available.

Which tools or training methods are “right” will depend on your audience. For some, it’s videos or interactive and online sessions. For others, it’s working in groups. Different people learn differently. Get to know your trainees early on, and don’t hesitate to think outside the box.

A few more tips:

  • Check-in with new hires often. A good rule of thumb is to touch base with them at least once a day at first. This may seem like overkill, and you can gradually back off, but it beats having them feel lost, overlooked, or unsure what to do next.
  • Help them score an early win. Give your new team member an assignment that’s challenging but readily achievable. This will boost their confidence and comfort level right off the bat.
  • Activate the buddy system. Assign new hires a buddy or mentor. Designate a friendly peer or senior staffer who does similar work. That person can field questions, show them around and introduce them to people. Consider having your new employee shadow their buddy or mentor for a day to learn what your typical business routine looks like.
  • Gather feedback. Make communication with new hires a two-way street. Have them tell you how their training process is going. Take this information into account for the future.

To optimize your training strategy, and address your ongoing staffing and talent development needs in areas including customer service, IT, accounting and finance, legal support, healthcare, and production, contact PrideStaff Modesto today. We have a 30-plus year track record of success in the Central Valley, and we’re ready to help you innovate and exceed all your HR goals.

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