Types of Employee Training

New Employee Training: 10 Tips for Effective New Hire Training

New Employee Training: 10 Tips for Effective New Hire Training

As your company finds new talent to fill much-needed roles, it becomes important for you to implement successful new employee training programs for every employee recruited. Why? Well, for starters, these programs hold a lot of value in terms of teaching new hires all about the company policies, business goals, employee’s individual roles, department structures, and so much more. 

The training sessions, conducted as a part of your employee onboarding process, can significantly improve the time in which your new hires start making impactful contributions to the organization. On the other hand, if the initial training is a disjointed or nonexistent effort, your new hires might struggle to catch up on standard operating procedures, company culture and policies, and other important information as they adjust into a new role in the organization.

This is why we have brought you this exclusive guide on New Employee Training to help you build an effective training program for your new hires and set them up for long-term success.

New Employee Training Checklist

Download the new employee training checklist to create an effective training program for your new hires

✓ Thank you, the checklist will be sent to your email

FREE TEMPLATE
Download our new employee training checklist to manage your training program effectively!

Why Is New-Hire Training Important?

 Let’s explore the benefits of new hire training in detail:

New Hire Training

1. Skill development

New-hire training is vital for skill development as it equips employees with the knowledge and competencies necessary to excel in their roles. It helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, enabling new hires to perform their job effectively from day one, ultimately contributing to the organization’s success.

2. Productivity and efficiency

New-hire training significantly boosts productivity and efficiency within an organization. By providing employees with the skills and information they need, training reduces the learning curve, minimizes errors, and promotes standardized procedures. This leads to quicker task execution, fewer mistakes, and a more streamlined workflow, ultimately enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.

3. Compliance

Training is essential for ensuring that employees are aware of and adhere to legal, ethical, and safety standards. It helps organizations avoid legal issues, regulatory fines, and reputational damage by ensuring that employees are well-versed in industry-specific regulations and company policies, fostering a culture of compliance that is crucial in today’s complex business environment.

4. Improves morale and reduces turnover

New-hire training has a positive impact on employee morale and turnover rates. When employees receive comprehensive training, they gain confidence in their abilities, leading to higher job satisfaction and engagement. This, in turn, promotes employee retention, reducing turnover costs and creating a stable and motivated workforce that contributes to the company’s long-term success.

Related Resources

How to Develop an Effective New-Hire Training Plan?

Here’s how you can develop an effective new-hire training program for your employees.

1. Start onboarding before day one

Begin the onboarding process before the new hire’s official start date. This includes sending them a welcome email, employment contracts, company policies, and any essential documents they need to complete. Pre-boarding sets a positive tone and ensures they are well-prepared when they walk through the door on their first day.

2. Clearly outline expectations

Provide a detailed job description that outlines the responsibilities, objectives, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the role. Clear expectations help new hires understand what is expected of them and how their role contributes to the organization’s success. 

You can implement a 30-60-90 day plan to keep track of new hires’ goals and progress in the first few months of their new job.

For the first 30 days, identify any knowledge or learning-based goals such as:

  • Understanding company culture and policies
  • Learning company-specific platforms, intranet systems, communication and collaboration tools
  • Completing company-specific training sessions
  • Meeting with key stakeholders to establish healthy working relationships
  • Starting working on projects
  • Building an employee development plan with specific goals, metrics, and KPI

For the 60-day target, identify goals related to contribution, such as:

  • Collaborating with other teams
  • Identifying issues or pain points with the roles and developing plans to address them.
  • Setting up regular meetings with managers to get their feedback on the progress
  • Discussing opportunities to get further involved with the company culture, including participating in activities or group outings.

The third month of employment is when new hires begin mastering their job skills to achieve their SMART goals outlined in their 30-60-90 day plan. The last month of the 90-day plan includes:

  • Working independently on projects
  • Being more accountable for work
  • Being proactive and becoming more involved in the organization
  • Touching base with the manager for feedback about the KPIs going forward

3. Understand your new hire’s needs and opportunities

Conducting a training needs assessment is a critical step in developing an effective new-hire training plan as it provides valuable insights into the specific knowledge gaps, skills deficiencies, and learning preferences of each employee. 

This assessment helps tailor the training program to meet individual needs, ensuring that it addresses the exact areas requiring improvement and capitalizes on existing strengths. By understanding these unique requirements, organizations can design a more efficient and focused training plan, ultimately leading to faster skill development, increased job satisfaction, and higher productivity among new hires.

4. Leverage tech tools

Leveraging tech tools for new-hire training brings several advantages to the table. Technology allows for the creation of interactive and engaging training materials, such as eLearning modules, videos, and virtual simulations, which can cater to various learning styles and preferences. 

Software platforms such as learning management systems (LMS) and digital adoption platforms (DAP) enable easy access to training resources, progress tracking, and assessments, streamlining the training process and ensuring consistency. 

DAPs offer interactive, on-demand, and personalized learning experiences that cater to individual learning styles and pace. They provide real-time guidance and support within the actual software and systems employees will use, minimizing the learning curve and accelerating proficiency. 

Overall, technology enhances the accessibility, efficiency, and effectiveness of new-hire training, making it an indispensable component of modern training programs.

5. Tailor your training according to the employee

Training should always be tailored according to the employee. Personalized training programs take on a learner-centric approach that ensures each training pathway is relevant to the learner and their goals. This approach helps employees perform better, leading to better business outcomes for the entire enterprise.

Invest in employee training software or eLearning authoring tools with algorithms that gather information on your employees and suggest learning activities based on that information. 

A digital adoption platform (DAP) is an employee training solution that integrates with digital tools to provide automated, personalized training in the flow of work. It has artificial intelligence (AI) technology that determines the learner’s role in the company, personal development goals, and current training needs to suggest the right training module.

A DAP assigns each learner a contextual task list containing relevant walk-throughs based on the learner’s user segment. These walkthroughs show users how to complete a certain process by guiding them through each step, showing them relevant training videos, or providing informative articles.

6. Embrace experiential learning

Experiential learning guides employees on how to perform the different tasks they are expected to do as part of their daily workflows and then continuously learn from the experience of performing those tasks without eventually requiring any guidance. Unlike current training mechanisms, experiential learning is not a one-time standalone event but happens continuously and in real-time.

The experiential learning approach prevents employees from spending most of their time searching for knowledge by making it available on-demand and specific to employees’ context. This helps them learn faster and be more productive because they are not spending a lot of time learning.

7. Delegate mentors

Mentors, who are experienced employees, offer invaluable insights into the organization’s culture, workflows, and best practices, helping new hires acclimate more quickly and effectively. They serve as a trusted resource for answering questions, offering advice, and sharing practical knowledge, creating a supportive learning environment. 

Furthermore, mentors can help identify areas where individual training needs may arise and provide real-world context to theoretical training, ensuring that new employees not only understand the company’s processes but also know how to navigate them successfully. Overall, mentorship enhances the onboarding experience, promotes faster integration, and fosters a sense of belonging among new hires, all of which contribute to the overall effectiveness of the training plan.

8. Offer support

​​When new hires know they have access to readily available assistance, whether from HR, managers, or colleagues, they are more likely to ask questions, seek clarification, and address challenges proactively. Offering constant support to new hires ensures that potential obstacles are addressed promptly, reducing frustration and boosting confidence in the learning process. 

Furthermore, knowing that support is accessible fosters a sense of inclusion and belonging, which is essential for new employees to thrive, integrate into the company culture, and ultimately succeed within the organization. Overall, offering support enhances the overall effectiveness of the training plan by minimizing barriers and facilitating a smoother transition for new hires.

9. Provide regular feedback

As new hires become better acquainted with the responsibilities related to their role, it is important for the managers to schedule time with these employees and provide regular feedback. This practice would not only help employees understand what is expected of them, but also help managers understand the challenges employees might be facing and make alternations in the training plan accordingly.

Regular employee feedback also ensures your new employees are performing their tasks appropriately and are on track to meeting their established goals.

10. Educate on company culture

Education on company culture sets the foundation for alignment and engagement. When new employees understand the company’s values, mission, and vision, they are better equipped to make decisions and take actions that are consistent with the organization’s ethos. It helps new hires integrate into the workplace more seamlessly by providing context for expectations, behaviors, and interpersonal dynamics. 

Additionally, a clear understanding of the company’s culture promotes a sense of belonging and shared purpose, which can enhance job satisfaction and employee retention. By incorporating education on company culture into the training plan, organizations ensure that new hires not only acquire the necessary skills but also develop the cultural awareness needed to thrive within the organization, ultimately contributing to its success.

Effective New-Hire Training Plan

4 Things to Avoid During New Hire Training

Here’s a list of things to avoid while training your new hires.

1. Information overload

It’s crucial to avoid overwhelming new hires with an excessive amount of information during training. Overloading them can lead to confusion and hinder effective learning. Instead, prioritize essential information and deliver it in a structured manner to ensure new employees can absorb and retain key concepts.

2. Ignoring feedback

Neglecting to gather and act upon feedback from new hires is a significant mistake. Failing to address their questions, concerns, or suggestions can lead to frustration and a lack of engagement. Listening to feedback allows organizations to refine their training programs, making them more effective and aligned with employee needs.

3. Failing to nurture their interests

Disregarding the interests and strengths of new hires can hinder their engagement and development. Training programs must be tailored to accommodate varying learning styles and preferences, allowing employees to explore areas that align with their interests. This not only enhances motivation but also helps employees find their niche within the organization.

4. One-way conversations

Engaging new hires in one-way conversations, where they passively receive information without opportunities for questions or discussions, is counterproductive. Interactive training sessions that encourage active participation, questions, and open dialogue foster a deeper understanding and engagement, creating a more dynamic and effective learning environment.

Accelerate new employee training and reduce time-to-proficiency with the Whatfix digital adoption platform

The Whatfix digital adoption platform is instrumental in accelerating new employee training and reducing time-to-proficiency by providing a user-friendly and interactive learning experience. Through its on-screen, step-by-step guidance and real-time support, Whatfix ensures that new hires can quickly navigate and master complex software applications and workflows. It offers personalized, in-app training modules that cater to individual learning styles and preferences, allowing employees to learn at their own pace. 

Moreover, the platform continuously assesses user progress and identifies areas where additional training or support may be needed, allowing organizations to tailor training plans precisely to meet employees’ needs, resulting in faster skill acquisition and greater productivity.

To learn more about Whatfix employee training solutions, click here to schedule a free demo with us!

Table of Contents
favicon-updated2
Ready to Whatfix?

Request a demo to see how Whatfix empowers organizations to improve end-user adoption and provide on-demand customer support

Subscribe to get new content delivered directly to your inbox.