There used to be a time when the corporate lifestyle meant sticking to a 9 to 5 routine, attending conferences, back-to-back meetings, and working with a team, all in a formal work environment. After years of following the same course, today, the course of working has changed greatly.

The world today is running majorly on remote and hybrid offices and a work culture that is completely different. With everything going digital, even the onboarding process of new employees has to be done virtually.

However, many businesses move forward with a dull onboarding process. They forward a formally written onboarding email, or at maximum, organize a video conference with related team members.

Experts say a good onboarding process is a great technique to retain employees. If done right, it can even increase the overall productivity of new employees.

In this blog, we will share with you a few ideas to make your virtual onboarding process interesting. 

The Process Of Virtual Onboarding – Definition & Tips 

Simply put, virtual onboarding is the process of welcoming new talents into your workforce. As the name suggests, this process is completely virtual as the employees are located and work for the organization remotely. This process is usually done over video conferences or emails. 

Virtual onboarding has a lot in common with in-person onboarding. The intent is similar and the process is usually performed by the HR department. Virtual onboarding takes place digitally - including the process of induction and team introduction.

However tedious it may sound, virtual onboarding has many more benefits. The absence of physical contact may definitely be there but many organizations agree that virtual onboarding is comparatively more effective than in-person onboarding.

Sounds intriguing, right? Continue reading to know more.   

How To Make Virtual Onboarding Interesting? 

Even in-person onboarding gets extremely monotonous due to the lengthy paperwork and lack of information about the workplace.

Virtual onboarding can be an interesting and engaging experience for new employees if employers make the effort to plan activities that create a genuine connection. This could include things like introducing them to the team in a series of fun activities, such as virtual icebreakers or group challenges, and having key people in the organization welcome them personally with a video conference call. 

Another idea is to create regular follow-up sessions for new recruits so they can get dedicated time with members of their team and build relationships, as well as nourishing their understanding of the company culture. 

Providing a personalized career path, opportunities for growth, and chances to give back are also great ways to make people feel welcomed and engaged during their onboarding journey.

According to studies, organizations with a good onboarding process experience 50 percent greater new-hire productivity.

Unfortunately, a large majority of organizations are not focussed on providing an efficient onboarding process.

If you are on the verge of onboarding new employees, then we have just the tips for you to follow. 

#1. Set Up The Call On The Right Platform 

Having the right set of technology to host the onboarding procedure is the most important factor in the whole process. The process of virtual onboarding totally relies on the kind of platform you choose.

It is important to choose a platform that covers all the important aspects - introduction, induction, and communication. Not just that, but there is so much more that you can do to make virtual communication better. You can display a social media wall during the process through a social media aggregation and display tool.

You can create a personalized feed of user-generated content (Branded content) posted on Instagram and display it on the screen. It is a great way to boost interaction and engagement. 

#2. Give A Detailed Team Intro 

Onboarding a new employee is like introducing a new culture to someone. It is crucially important to give the employee a detailed team introduction. Any employee's initial work days are filled with challenges and questions. It is important to help the employee gel up nicely with the rest of the team so the employee can begin with the work seamlessly.

1. Provide a brief overview of the team's role and responsibilities within the organization.
2. Introduce each team member by name and role, and provide a brief overview of their background and experience.
3. Encourage team members to share a little bit about themselves, their interests, and what they enjoy about working for the company.
4. Explain the team's culture and working style, and encourage the new employee to ask questions and share their own thoughts and ideas.
5. Provide information about how the team communicates, such as through regular meetings, email, or messaging tools.
6. Highlight any team traditions, such as monthly team-building activities or weekly check-ins.

Good bonding with the team during the initial days can also help the employee understand the culture and work environment of the company. 

#3. Ensure The Documentation Work Remains Smooth 

 If you have ever been through the employment process, you must be aware of the long and typical paperwork that takes hours to finish and still is never up to the mark. It is extremely important to ease out the documentation process for new employees.

1. Make sure that all necessary documentation is provided to the new employee in a timely manner. This might include things like employee manuals, policies and procedures, job descriptions, and job aids.
2. Ensure that the new employee has access to the tools and resources they need to complete their documentation work. This might include access to computer systems, software, and other tools as needed.
3. Provide training and guidance on any documentation processes or systems that are new to the employee. This could include showing them how to use specific software or systems, or providing them with step-by-step instructions on how to complete certain tasks.
4. Encourage the new employee to ask questions and seek help when needed. Make sure they know who to turn to for support if they have any questions or run into any issues.

You can keep references and samples ready to share with employees to help them out during the process. This way, you can save a lot of time for your employees and get done with the procedure faster. 

#4. Assign A Work Buddy

As mentioned earlier, it is vital to help your employees understand the values, principles, and work culture of your organization. Assigning one person with better knowledge of your organization can help out the new employee to grasp the basics of your organization better and faster.

There are several benefits to having a work buddy:

1. Can help orient the new employee to their job duties, company policies, and procedures.
2. Provide a sense of support and belonging for the new employee as they navigate their new role.
3. Serve as a resource for the new employee to ask questions and get help when needed.
4. Can help the new employee learn about the company culture and how things operate within the organization.

This is not only helpful for the organization, but also for the employee as the employee will certainly feel more comfortable with any questions and confusion. 

The Final Word

This is only the beginning of a remote working culture. In the coming years, this is going to be a very common form of employment and it is essential to integrate a well-designed virtual onboarding process for the employees fully covered with good communication and knowledge of operations. After all, a strong team is what can make any organization successful.