Entrusting the onboarding of new employees solely to the Human Resources department may not be the best approach. Valuable insights gleaned from data show that an engineer’s performance in their first few weeks of work can accurately forecast their performance for years to come. In today’s IT industry, where one in four workers resign within a year because of inadequate onboarding, this is especially important to bear in mind. To encourage new engineers to get up to speed quickly, regardless of where they work from (be it in the central office or remotely), five strategies could be put into place:
Effective Strategies for Attracting New Programmers
The onboarding process holds enormous significance for all team operations. However, it becomes even more crucial when team members are dispersed across distinct geographical regions. Works’ Chief Technology Officer states that they take extra measures to ensure that new developers are proficient not only in the technical aspects of their role but also possess the essential interpersonal skills required to collaborate effectively with the rest of the team.
He further elaborated that their program lays emphasis on imparting effective communication skills, irrespective of the platform being employed, to their developers. This includes educating them on how to respectfully express their disagreement with a customer’s price quotes. Furthermore, the program reminds the participants that their role is not limited to sales, but instead, they are expected to take the initiative in identifying problems and proposing feasible solutions.
After studying the experiences of over 1,200 Works developers in Asia, we have realised that the first few weeks on the job play a significant role in determining long-term success, and that efficient communication is a significant gauge of a team’s and developer’s performance. Our dedication towards building a productive and positive environment has resulted in Works being recognised as the leading workplace in Asia.
Moreover, he imparts several other crucial career lessons:
Integrate New Team Members as Valuable Contributors from Day One
To ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members, irrespective of their work location, it is crucial to take necessary measures to help them feel included. This involves adding them to the staff directory, enrolling them in relevant email groups and Slack channels, and inviting them to team meetings. Even small gestures, such as a welcoming message or a friendly introduction, can go a long way in ensuring that new and current team members feel appreciated and respected.
Provide a Comprehensive Overview of the Company’s Processes and Code
Providing access to software documentation and an employee handbook is crucial for new hires, but merely assigning them reading material is inadequate. To enable remote engineers to gain a thorough understanding of the codebase, engineering practices, product roadmap, and team communication methods, it is recommended to incorporate a few weeks of onboarding activities during their initial stages of employment. This will equip new hires with the necessary information and resources to thrive in their role.
You may also be interested in reading: 4 Strategies for Enhanced Communication in Remote Teams
Initiate Rapid Production of a Product
It is crucial to ascertain if new developers can submit code within their first week of employment. Any accomplishment, no matter how insignificant, should be recognised and appreciated. An effective way to familiarise new team members with the system architecture is to offer them the chance to resolve issues in different modules.
Immediately Assign New Programmers to Lead Group Projects
According to the individual in question, being mentored one-on-one by a peer in a similar role is the most beneficial learning environment. Developers in a training program can acquire the necessary skills more efficiently by working in pairs or smaller project teams. This approach can expedite the learning process.
Rapidly and Thoroughly Educate individuals on Teamwork Approaches and Available Resources
Even though our software engineers hold degrees in computer science, they usually have limited experience in collaborative development when they join Works. They may justify their lack of teamwork abilities by stating that they are accustomed to working independently, writing their code in their editor, and managing their own repository. However, it is crucial to recognise the importance of using code branches and merges to avoid potential conflicts in the future and the significance of being a great team player.
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