So, you’ve recruited a new employee for that open position? Maximize the successful onboarding of your new hire before they ever set foot in the office with a strategy called “pre-boarding”. Investing just a little time in this process, any Salt Lake City recruiting firm will tell you, pays back dividends in new employee engagement.

On average, it costs $4000 to recruit, hire, and train a new employee, without factoring in the lost revenue while that position is vacant. With top talent in high demand, the first 90 days on the job is critical to holding on to that new hire. At our Salt Lake City recruitment firm, we’ve discovered just how important a superior on-boarding experience is in fully engaging and retaining those new hires you’ve worked so hard to find.

Of course, it starts with a good recruitment strategy, which our Salt Lake City recruiting firm can help with. Make it easy to apply, and streamline your interviewing and decision timeline so you don’t lose top candidates to a competitor or waning interest. Don’t let them forget about you!

Once you and your Utah recruiting agency have found the right person and they accept your offer, it’s time to think “pre-boarding.” Pre-boarding takes full advantage of the time between an offer and a new hire’s first day by integrating that new person into your company. Focus on maximizing this time and you will increase engagement and significantly decrease the possibility of your new recruit regretting their decision.

After all, taking on a new job can be a big and difficult change for your new hire and their family. Even if you’re not requiring him or her to relocate, the change is disruptive, and a little attention to pre-boarding can help their transition be as smooth as possible.

So how do you successfully pre-board a new hire? Here are a few ideas from our Salt Lake City recruiting professionals for basic, intermediate, and advanced things you can do:

Forward your new employee an organizational chart so he or she knows whom they will report to and where they fit in the department and organization puzzle.

Send every piece of necessary paperwork you can before they start – and make it even easier by filling in some of the information you already have, such as name, address, etc.

If your new recruit is relocating to Salt Lake City, send a packet of resources to make that move easier. Include rental listings, real estate agents, city maps, school district information and any other useful guides. Add a special touch by including a little something special from Salt Lake City, like a gift card to a restaurant your employees frequent, Jazz tickets, or passes to Hogle Zoo. Your Salt Lake City recruiting firm may have other ideas on what to include in the welcome package.

Immediately invite them to and post a message welcoming them on your employee social media pages, where other employees can welcome them. Go above and beyond by letting the world know how excited you are to have them join your team by publicly Tweeting or posting about them joining your company.

Create a welcome video specifically for your new hire. Include a quick office and/or department tour, and have colleagues introduce themselves and welcome the new team member. Even better, include a view of their new workspace, complete with everything they need to get started.

Once your new hire accepts your offer, waiting to get started can be really stressful. Taking a little extra time to make your new hire feel welcome can make the transition easy and make them feel connected. Although this make take a little more time and energy on your part, recruiters in Salt Lake City know that it is worth the effort.

Stay tuned for our upcoming article on strategies for making day one engaging for your new hire.

Looking for great employees for your Salt Lake City or Utah-based business? Recruiting Connection can help you get candidates fast. Get started with Utah’s best recruiting team now.