Engineers’ Onboarding Is Going Virtual as the New Norm

In light of the growing trend of digital enterprises solely working remotely, businesses are encountering a new predicament when it comes to integrating new staff members, given that physical office space is no longer in play for either the company or its employees.

In a recent interview with Fast Company, Renato Profico, the Chief Executive Officer at Doodle, stressed the importance of recruitment for certain industries and posited that virtual channels represent the future of onboarding. This shift to remote work has been catalysed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Chief Financial Officers now hoping to maintain a majority remote workforce. As a result, organisations that are not actively seeking new staff members may still be required to address the challenge of virtual onboarding.

The central issue at hand is how to effectively bring engineers who work remotely up to speed.

In this piece, we will be delving into the specifics of how to integrate engineers who work remotely into your team.

  1. Compare Onboarding to Orientation.

    Research conducted by Kronos and The Human Capital Group demonstrates that many Human Resource directors (76 percent) believe that onboarding techniques are not being fully optimised within their respective organisations, implying that the process is essential but riddled with fundamental flaws.

    It should be noted that the term “onboarding” is better suited to an organisation’s orientation process, which typically consists of reading the company handbook, enrolling in available benefits, and self-directed learning of the intricacies involved in the job. While the “sink or swim” approach can be effective, it can lead to new hires feeling disconnected and isolated, particularly in a remote work dynamic.
  2. Structured Onboarding Enhances Memory Retention and Adaptability.

    The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reported findings from a study indicating that companies with a more formal and structured onboarding program tend to exhibit greater productivity and employee retention rates. This suggests that an organised onboarding process can significantly enhance the overall performance of a business.
    • Studies suggest that a positive onboarding experience increases the likelihood of employees staying with the company for at least three years by 69%.
    • Those who underwent a structured onboarding program upon joining had a 58% greater chance of remaining with the company after three years.
    • Businesses that implement a systematic onboarding process can expect to see a 50% increase in the productivity of new hires.
  3. Join Us

    When it comes to fostering cohesive teams, successful onboarding of engineers who work remotely plays an integral role. Effective onboarding goes beyond simply outfitting new recruits with tools and resources such as computers and ID cards; it also involves instilling a sense of investment and enthusiasm in both the organisation and the team, as well as ensuring that all new hires are well-versed in and abide by the development standards upheld by the group. By dedicating ample time and attention to properly onboard remote engineers, teams can achieve their maximum potential and secure long-term success.

For more on this topic, check out our article: “10 Tips for Successful Remote Software Developer Onboarding”.

Join the Top 1% of Remote Developers and Designers

Works connects the top 1% of remote developers and designers with the leading brands and startups around the world. We focus on sophisticated, challenging tier-one projects which require highly skilled talent and problem solvers.
seasoned project manager reviewing remote software engineer's progress on software development project, hired from Works blog.join_marketplace.your_wayexperienced remote UI / UX designer working remotely at home while working on UI / UX & product design projects on Works blog.join_marketplace.freelance_jobs