Onboarding

Onboarding is the structured process of integrating new employees into a company, equipping them with the necessary tools, information, and support to succeed in their new roles. It goes beyond a simple orientation. It’s a strategic opportunity to foster engagement, set expectations, and align new hires with the company culture and goals.

Unlike a one-time event, onboarding is a multi-stage journey that can span weeks or even months, helping employees gradually integrate and feel a sense of belonging.

Effective onboarding typically includes the following stages:

Pre-boarding

This stage begins once the offer is accepted and continues until the first day. It includes paperwork, IT setup, welcome emails, and sending out handbooks or team introductions to make the employee feel prepared and valued.

Orientation

Orientation is usually a one-time event where new hires learn about company values, policies, benefits, and logistics. It’s often led by HR and includes a tour (virtual or physical), introductions, and compliance training.

Training

New employees receive role-specific training to understand their responsibilities, tools, and workflows. This phase may involve e-learning, shadowing, or hands-on sessions tailored to their position.

Integration

Here, the goal is to help the employee build relationships and develop a sense of inclusion. This involves team meetings, social initiatives, ongoing mentoring, and regular performance conversations.

Development and support

Ongoing check-ins and career development planning begin to take shape during this phase. Employees are encouraged to set goals, give feedback, and expand their knowledge and capabilities within the company.

Onboarding typically lasts between 30 to 90 days, but the most effective programs extend up to six months or a full year. The duration depends on the complexity of the role, team size, and company structure. Long-term onboarding focuses on continuous engagement, skill development, and performance alignment.

A strong onboarding process can bring measurable benefits to both employees and the organisation.

Increased employee retention

Employees who go through structured onboarding are more likely to stay with the company long-term. It helps build early trust and confidence in the employer-employee relationship.

Improved employee engagement

Onboarding sets the tone for open communication and inclusion, which contributes to higher engagement and satisfaction.

Faster time to productivity

By equipping new hires with the right tools and knowledge early on, they can contribute meaningfully to projects sooner.

Enhanced company reputation

A smooth onboarding experience leaves a positive impression and strengthens your employer brand, especially important when hiring across borders. Learn how Native Teams helps businesses hire globally.

An effective onboarding strategy doesn’t happen by accident. Here’s how to build a scalable and successful program:

Define goals and objectives

Outline what you want new employees to achieve by the end of the onboarding period—skills mastered, knowledge gained, or relationships formed.

Develop a structured onboarding plan

Create a timeline and checklist that covers all onboarding stages. Consistency is key, especially when onboarding remote or international team members.

Prepare resources and materials

Provide employees with access to relevant tools, handbooks, training documents, and platform logins before day one.

Assign mentors and buddies

Pair new hires with someone from the team to provide guidance, answer questions, and help build connections from the start.

Schedule regular check-ins

Follow up frequently during the first few weeks and months to gather feedback and address any challenges early.

Encourage feedback and continuous improvement

Collect input on the onboarding experience and refine your program accordingly. This ensures it remains relevant and effective as your company grows.

Track metrics to measure success

Monitor retention rates, employee engagement scores, and time to productivity to evaluate onboarding effectiveness.

Use employee onboarding software

Automate and streamline your onboarding process with tools that handle document collection, training delivery, and progress tracking. Explore Native Teams’ all-in-one platform to simplify global onboarding.

Personalise the onboarding process

Tailor the experience based on role, location, and individual goals to make new employees feel recognised and valued.

Continuously improve the process

Onboarding should evolve with your team’s needs. Regularly audit your process and gather feedback to keep it fresh and impactful.

While often used interchangeably, orientation is just one part of onboarding. Orientation is typically a short-term, informational event focused on company policies and logistics. In contrast, onboarding is a longer-term, strategic process designed to integrate employees into the company culture, workflows, and teams.