Tips for Training New Employees Effectively (With FAQ)

Training new employees is an important part of your new hire's success. There are many aspects to consider when training new hires so that they can begin effectively working in their roles. If you're responsible for onboarding new employees, learning more about training new staff can help you make the process more effective. In this article, we discuss the importance of training new employees, explore the goals of employee training, and review tips and frequently asked questions about the topic.

Why train new employees?

Successfully training new hires can help build a reliable team. When you support new hires, you help promote a great relationship with them. This shows the new employees that you and your establishment consider them as integral parts of the company. Training plans help show your new members how the job is suitable for them and their interests. It also helps to improve the likelihood of employee retention and increased employee capability and productivity.

The training process aims to teach about the company's values, mission, and goals. New hires also learn how to be successful in their individual roles in the company. In the future, these new hires may help train other new employees that are recruited after them. This helps the company to put a healthy and self-sufficient employee training cycle in place. An efficient training plan for new employees consists of an approach that uses resources and tools available for all staff. Easy accessibility to managers and more experienced colleagues is also essential.

Read more: Understanding the Importance of Training Employees

Goals for training new employees

When training new employees and helping them develop professionally, you can have the following goals in mind to help make your process more effective:

• Employees learn to solve problems while also being creative, innovative, and imaginative, allowing them to take on jobs with confidence.

• Employee engagement increases, which leads to higher staff retention.

• Efficiency in workplace processes increases.

• Workplace attitudes improve, along with increased morale.

Tips for effective training

Here are some tips to help you create a clear, concise, and simple plan to help integrate new hires into your company:

Recruit and delegate existing employees

Before new employees join the team, enlist senior team members to help with the training process. Ask them if they want to contribute to the process by either creating resources or showing the new team members how to carry out specific tasks. With this method, every member of the team gets to know their new colleagues. This also helps to reduce the time spent integrating new hires while showing your senior employees that you value their knowledge and experience.

Start the integration process before the first day

The first few days at a new job can be overwhelming. Adjusting to new systems and coworkers often takes time. Instead of expecting your new employee to learn the new role by themselves, have measures in place to assist them and help them adjust. Onboarding your new hires can include seeing them before they begin work and sending them a comprehensive welcome email. You may invite them to the office for a brief introductory meeting or meet them outside the company in a more relaxed environment.

The welcome email may include start time, parking instructions, the itinerary for their first day, details on dress code and office culture, and scheduled training and orientations. Include direct phone numbers to supervisors and managers so they can contact your company with questions, along with a list of company policies.

Related: How To Introduce Yourself to a New Team

Plan an impressive first day

It is essential to impress your new hires on their first day at your company. Show them the building and the location of items they may need. Introduce them to other members of the team and other colleagues they might regularly interact with. You can include an employee summary list with everyone's name and job descriptions to help them remember.

Provide information on company culture and values

Company culture describes the values and beliefs that determine the interactions between employees, employers, and customers. Create a shortlist of your company's core values and share it with new employees while training them. Making sure that new employees become well-acquainted with company culture is vital to their integration in the workplace.

Related: Job Search Guide: Finding Companies That Value Diversity and Inclusion

Use various learning methods

Training managers provide opportunities for different training and learning methods in order to create a productive team. As you integrate your new employees into their environment, note that you can use varied learning methods to educate them about the company's operations. Adapt your training sessions to the needs and personalities of the employees rather than using a strict approach.

Some learning methods you can employ for your team include:

• simulator employee training

• eLearning

• mentoring

• group discussions

• roleplaying

• case studies

Related: Communication Skills: Definition and Examples

Provide easily accessible resources

As your new hires adjust to their new jobs, it's your duty as an employer to provide them with easily accessible resources. Rather than using a verbal training approach, consider creating written or video recorded training resources. These may include video tutorials, how-to guides, directorial articles, and FAQ reviews.

Help them set achievable personal targets

As the training process begins, share the company's expectations with your new hires. Let them know what you expect them to achieve and take the extra step to help them set attainable goals towards the company's expectations. Encourage your new employees to adopt the SMART method of planning, which provides a framework for specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound targets.

Allow sufficient time for questions and feedback

Learning processes are more effective when you encourage learners to ask questions. Devote time for questions and dialogue during the training session so your new hires get all the information they need for the role. This reassures them they can be comfortable asking questions and helps avoid confusion.

Apply constructive feedback mechanisms

Ask for feedback from your new employees during training sessions and motivate them to share any ideas, questions, and suggestions. You can gather feedback face-to-face or with an anonymous platform to share their thoughts. Thoroughly pay attention to the feedback that you receive and address them as effectively as possible.

Introduce team-building exercises

Consider integrating different team-building activities to help your new employees adjust to the company. Such activities are a great way to encourage new hires and existing employees to get to know each other. For example, consider creating workshops, seminars, volunteering, and even scavenger hunts around the office. This improves the team spirit and friendliness among team members, making them more eager to work with each other.

Make yourself and managers available and approachable

The process of being a great manager is continuous. Make yourself available and approachable to your new hires and offer support when you can. You may devote time in your schedule to get acquainted with them and remind them they can come to you when they need help in their new roles.

Introduce periodic reviews

As your new employees adjust to the company's systems and modes of operation, keep track of their progress. Schedule time to provide periodic reviews on the work that they have been doing. Keep communication positive and motivating. Regular feedback prevents repeated errors and encourages good behaviour in your new hires.

Implement reward systems

Create a culture of celebrating success and good work. When your new employees achieve their set targets, celebrate their efforts and encourage them to continue. This inspires your new team members to continue to learn and meet goals while making them feel valued and appreciated. It can contribute to a positive organizational culture for everyone in your workplace.

FAQs about training new hires

The following are common questions team leaders and managers usually have about training new employees:

When do you begin new employee training?

Some hiring managers devote the first week of employment to training. While you rarely begin in-depth training with your recruits until they begin working, you may offer them basic onboarding material that they can review before their first day. This can make new employees feel more comfortable and prepared by reducing their time studying basic training content once they arrive.

Related: What Is Induction Training? (With Benefits and Tips)

How can I tell whether my new staff training plan is working?

One of the most effective ways to analyze the success of your new employee training program is to conduct pre-training and post-training assessments or surveys and compare the results. For example, if an employee knows very little about their work and responsibilities before training but has enhanced their comprehension by 87% after five weeks on the job, your employee training was likely effective. Each pre-and post-training evaluation is to be customized to the employee's position and their existing abilities and knowledge.

How can I make onboarding new employees more enjoyable?

There are several steps you can make to help new employee training be more enjoyable for you and your new hires. Take regular pauses, incorporate engaging games into the training program, encourage socializing like coffee conversations and icebreaker questions and games. It also helps to recognize new employees for their accomplishments regularly.