As businesses become increasingly aware of the benefits of remote working, such as enhanced productivity, reduced staff attrition and lower absenteeism, many are turning to the option of hiring remote software engineers. This approach has seen a marked rise in popularity over recent years.
However, the requirements of remote working engineers vary from those of office employees, and this also applies to their onboarding process.
Here are 10 strategies for a successful remote onboarding program:
Maintain equal priority for in-office and remote software engineers
Simultaneous onboarding of both remote and on-site staff is a challenging process that requires careful planning. To ensure that all new software engineers feel comfortable and that they are able to both ask questions and understand the onboarding presentation, it is essential to ensure that all participants are able to both see and hear what is being said. To this end, we recommend installing microphones and cameras at the venue to ensure that everyone is able to take full advantage of the onboarding process.Reduce Stress Using a Methodical Approach
Ensure that all new recruits are provided with all the necessary information to help them understand their position and how they can be successful in it. This should include an overview of the role, any expectations, as well as any training and development opportunities they may be eligible for. Additionally, a mentoring system should be in place to provide further guidance and support to the new recruits as they settle into the role.
- Give them a high-level summary of the software development team’s objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Outline your company’s evaluation method.
- Discuss their possible professional path. Inform them of the resources you have available to help them flourish.
- Discuss how high-level decisions are made inside the organisation.
Organise get-to-know-you events
Onboarding is more than just providing corporate information; it is a chance to foster meaningful connections between new and existing employees. To ensure remote employees have an opportunity to get to know one another, it is recommended to plan for random breakout sessions throughout the onboarding program. These sessions provide the perfect platform for employees to engage in friendly conversations, allowing them to build relationships with their peers.Make your onboarding experience enjoyable
Presentations can quickly become tedious, which is not ideal when you are providing essential information to your software engineers. To ensure that your new team members remain engaged, it is advisable that you consider incorporating certain elements of gamification into your onboarding program. This could involve introducing activities such as trivia questions and other fun exercises. Doing so will help to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.Encourage new employees to participate
As a company, it is important to provide information about your organisation and its services. However, it is also important to ensure that software engineers have the opportunity to ask questions. This may be more difficult for new employees who may be a little more hesitant to ask questions. The additional challenge of hiring remote working software engineers is that it is essential to be proactive in encouraging them to become involved. To help facilitate this, it might be beneficial to arrange Q&A sessions following any presentations or lectures, so that any questions they may have can be answered.Turn on some music!
It can be challenging to maintain a high level of energy while delivering long speeches. To help remote workers stay energised and focused, we at Works encourage the creation of a Spotify playlist featuring music from the team’s respective regions. Taking a break to listen to the playlist can help team members feel refreshed and connected to one another, enabling them to concentrate when the session resumes.Deliver Lunch
When a company goes the extra mile to demonstrate to their new employees how much they value their contribution, it serves to create a positive and welcoming environment. For example, providing lunch to remote staff members can be a great way to make them feel appreciated. If this is too much trouble, allowing them to select their own meal and covering the expense is a small but meaningful gesture that will help to foster a sense of ease and comfort throughout the remainder of the induction process.Organise a happy hour
Organisational events that foster social interaction can be beneficial for employees to become more acquainted with their co-workers. Although these get-to-know-you events are effective, they are only able to provide a limited amount of opportunities for colleagues to interact. As an alternative, businesses may plan an informal gathering outside of working hours, such as an after-work gathering, to provide further chances for employees to become acquainted with each other. These events could include playing games, ice-breaker sessions, or simply grabbing a cup of coffee and conversing with one’s peers.Establish a readily available resource library
As the onboarding material presented to new software engineers is substantial, it can be challenging for them to retain and recall the essential information. To facilitate their transition and understanding, it is recommended that a resource library be created and made available to these new employees. This library should provide access to essential documents, information, and papers, such that new team members can easily access the knowledge they need without having to rely on others.Make it unforgettable
No matter where software engineers are located, there are a variety of ways to make their onboarding program memorable. For example, businesses can share branded items such as t-shirts, coffee mugs, stickers, diaries, and other items in a “welcome to the firm” box to help create a positive and lasting impression.
Conclusion
Creating a friendly remote employee onboarding experience is critical to ensuring your software engineers are set up for success from the start.
It is of utmost importance to establish a comprehensive onboarding process when recruiting remote software engineers in order to ensure that new hires understand their responsibilities and feel valued. This process should be clearly outlined and established to ensure that all new hires have a successful and positive start to their employment.
