The Induction Process

Introduction: The Risk of Poor Onboarding

The recruiting process does not end successfully when the candidate is hired.

The manager's job continues, as he or she must now ensure that the new employee is professionally incorporated (inducted) into the organization. Ignoring this phase is a costly mistake.

Statistically, many organizations experience a high turnover rate in the first three to six months of employment.

This early failure is generally due to two reasons: either the wrong person was recruited (which a STAR process seeks to avoid), or, more commonly, the company failed in its induction process.

The Failed Approach: "Swim or Sink" and Urgency

The most flawed induction approach is known as "swim or sink."

This occurs when the new employee is "thrown" into their tasks from the get-go, expecting them to figure it out on their own.

A common manifestation of this is to have the person start working on productive tasks on their first day.

While this may seem efficient, it projects an image of disorganization and excessive urgency, creating stress for the new employee and setting a negative foundation for their integration.

Strategic Induction Date Planning

A good induction process begins before the first day: in the planning of the entry date. This date should not be random or "as soon as possible".

A date should be agreed upon that allows sufficient time for two things:

Administrative Paperwork: Allow the manager and HR to complete all necessary paperwork (contract signing, systems sign-up, computer equipment preparation, etc.).

Training Preparation: Allow the team time to prepare a structured training and induction plan for the first day and week.

The Goal of a Professional Induction Program

Instead of the "swim or sink" approach, the best practice is to implement a short, structured induction program.

The goal of this program is not to overwhelm the employee, but to help "ease them into" the organization gradually.

This plan should provide the necessary training and support to get the new employee up to speed quic