For new hires, the employee onboarding process sets the tone for their experience with the company. It’s important to make sure this process is memorable – for all of the right reasons –  and that your new hires are set to excel. Here are five key areas you should focus on to ensure your new hires are well informed and ready to hit the ground running in their new position.

Choose the Perfect Fit: Within the first 10 minutes of meeting a candidate, employers generally have an idea of whether or not they will be suitable for the position. Use this time wisely – a firm handshake and face-to-face interaction can show a lot about how an employee will behave in your business, and how they’ll interact with clients upon first meetings. Set aside enough time to ask your critical interview questions and have them meet with other key members of the team. An interview cut short might be off-putting to the candidate, and you’ll want to have time to answer their questions about the position or company as well. If the candidate is a recent graduate, try and gauge their ability to apply their knowledge from school to the workplace.

Communicate from the Get-Go: You’ve walked your new hires through their salary, benefits and all the exciting elements in their offer package. You’ve given your routine speech on the paperwork process, and finally they’re ready for day one in the office. Do your best to prevent a lull between the hire date and start date and try to communicate with your new hires on a consistent basis. Let them know when their paperwork is due, which important documents they should bring on the first day and encourage them to ask questions before they begin. There are many important items to follow up on with your new hire. After all, this initial communication will set the tone for their experience at your company and simply make them feel welcome.

Prep Their Office Space: This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to get caught up in your own work and find yourself in a rush to prepare a work space for your new hires. From technology to pencils to paperwork, the onboarding process will run significantly better if you’ve thought of putting everything they might need at their deskside. IT is your best friend throughout this preparation process – nothing says a company is unprepared for the onboarding process like spending the first few days of your employment waiting for a functioning computer.

Give a Warm Welcome: The first day is about creating a sense of familiarity and comfort for your new team members as they get used to their new work environment. It’s important to give them a tour of the office. Lunch is another key trip to plan for day one. Whether you hit the cafeteria with an intimate group of team members or head out to a restaurant, this initial team-building experience will give you a chance to discuss things outside of work and help the new employee feel more comfortable. Lastly, hand your new hires some branded items so they can show off their new company in style – most everyone enjoys some swag!

Prioritize their Paperwork: With the excitement of day one comes an abundance of paperwork (tax forms, I-9, benefits enrollment, etc.). Let the new hires know which tasks to prioritize based on their time sensitivity. Why cover time entry instead of an I-9 form on day one when the person isn’t set up in the system yet? If you hold off on time entry until day five, the person can log in on their own to learn firsthand how to use the tool. This also gives the manager a chance to check in to see how things are going.

So get your schedule ready, draft your welcome emails and sync up with your IT department ahead of your new hire’s first day. The onboarding process takes time, so be patient – you’ll feel good knowing you’ve put your new hire on the path to success.

Erin Delisanti, SPHR is the 
HR / Benefits Advisor, Human Resources at Computer Task Group.