Make day one memorable for new staff

If you want new staff to hang around for a while then the day they start work with you needs to be memorable. Not memorable because:

• No one was there to meet them.
• No work space was available for them.
• They spent the first two hours filling in forms for HR staff.

By memorable I mean that someone they know and who has an interest in them is obviously making an effort to ensure they are welcomed and feel welcomed.

That will be best carried out by the manager who selected them – a person who has a vested interest in their welfare. A person who takes their retention responsibilities seriously.

Make day one a red carpet day.

• Call them the day before to make sure they know where to come.
• Arrive before they do.
• Ensure they have a place to sit and work.
• Let your team know they have a new colleague.
• Foster a team effort to welcome the new person.
• Hold a morning tea or other special event to formally welcome them.
• Personally introduce them to each colleague.
• Line up an induction partner who can keep an eye out for them and answer more general questions during the first month.
• Make time to talk about what the section does, what your expectations are, what their role is.
• Provide a schedule of events: tour of the building; meeting with HR, finance, IT, security etc; meeting with the Big Boss or Bosses/Managers. But don’t overload them.

If you want new staff to keep coming to work, then make sure Day One is memorable.

Other useful articles:

• Top skills sought by graduate employers
• Applying for the right to select staff - the job specs

Dr Ann Villiers, learning guide, professional speaker and author, is Australia's only Mental Nutritionist® specialising in mind and language practices that help people build flexible thinking, confident speaking and quality connections with people. Visit www.mentalnutrition.com to learn more about Mental Nutrition. Visit www.selectioncriteria.com.au for free resources unlocking the mysteries of public service jobs.