Another Good Idea: How to Bring on a New Employee

By Shawna Kulpa

(Originally published February 2008)

You have a position you need to fill. After months of sifting through résumés and interviewing dozens of candidates, you finally narrow it down and find the perfect hire. Your work is done now, right? Not according to Andrea Hill of StrategyWerx.

In her new book, The How-to-Hire Handbook for Small Business Owners, Hill explains the importance of the onboarding process when bringing on a new employee. “Take the time to make introductions, tell the new employee about each of his workmates, and what each person is responsible for,” writes Hill. “Make sure he knows where the bathroom is, where coffee is available, kitchen etiquette, what everyone does for lunch and breaks, and whom to ask for which type of help.”

But what if you don’t have the time to explain the ins and outs of lunchroom etiquette? In that case, try the Buddy System.

“Some new employees are comfortable jumping in and discovering how things work, but most people appreciate a little guidance,” she writes. Often the easiest way to assimilate a new employee into the fold is to assign him a Buddy, who will then do the onboarding. Ideally, the Buddy should be a peer rather than his manager or supervisor, as the new employee is more likely to feel comfortable asking a peer questions. “And you want those questions to be asked,” she writes.

And the Buddy’s role doesn’t end once the new employee gets the lay of the land and an understanding of how the office operates. “The Buddy’s role extends through the first 90 days of employment,” writes Hill. “During the first week the Buddy will accompany the new employee on breaks and lunches and grease the wheels of new business friendships. As the new employee becomes more comfortable, the Buddy remains available to answer questions and provide support. Any employee may be confronted with a unique or challenging situation that requires a little advice. Having a Buddy available to help with these situations can help prevent an employee from derailing.”