Page 117 - Straight Talk On Project Management IV

The new onboarding? Is pre-boarding the secret to starting effective IT

project talent

Fewer than half of new employees (44%) report a
positive experience after joining a new company.
Ouch!! If you’re a hiring manager – that’s got to hurt!
Now, when I started my career, an employer would
probably have shrugged at this and suggested that
their new hires should toughen up and deal with it.
These days it’s different. We know now how a positive
onboarding process can boost productivity, reduce
talent turnover and, in short, can mean that you start
seeing a return on investment (ROI) from your new
hire in the fastest possible time.

Nine out of ten new hires spend their first six months
deciding whether to commit to their new employer
and first impressions are really important. Without access to the business’ network, an ID badge to
get around the building, or knowing where the kettle and toilets are (never underestimate the value
of brews and loos to a fresh employee) a new hire might not stick around – leaving you with the
hassle and expense of having to recruit again.
Beyond your admirable care for your new hire’s mental health and wellbeing and your desire to not
have to start the hiring process again in six months, there’s another stunningly good reason to get
onboarding right, I mentioned it already, ROI.
Especially in IT Projects where value is measured by the minute (not across a six-month period!)
having your new hire hit the ground running has never mattered more. Companies that don’t have
an effective onboarding strategy are leaking value from the moment their new hire signs on the
dotted line.

Bruce Harpham (the founder of ProjectManagementHacks.com) recalls once being that new guy,
“Years ago, I started a new job. It was exciting to walk in, meet new people and find my way around
a new building. The good news: The people I worked with were welcoming and happy to share their
insights with me. The bad news: I had no access to the corporate network for over a week. That
means no email.”
Writing for projectmanagement.com, Bruce adds, “Fortunately, I made up for that limitation by
reading printed materials and meeting people. Still, the lack of computer access slowed down my
productivity.”
Bruce Harpham’s piece about onboarding is worth a read.

It is something that at Stoneseed we take very seriously. And with good reason! Stoneseed provides
talent and resources through a PMaaS (Project Management as a Service) model and we wanted
that talent to start delivering value the minute they walk through your door.
Pre-Onboarded Project Management as a Service Talent