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Research for this paper informed a presentation at MidAmerica Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting, November 2, 2007, Lincoln, Nebraska.
The hiring process can be stressful for both employee and employer. It typically requires both parties to consider their needs and how to present themselves most favorably. The process can be time-consuming and emotional. So, when a job offer has been accepted, it may seem like it's time to breathe a sigh of relief and kick back. To some extent it is. However, if employers become overly relaxed about the next stage of the process-orientationthey may find the new hire's performance to be subpar or they may prematurely return to square one: advertising for a new employee. Designing an effective orientation program helps protect the resources invested during the hiring process and can pay dividends for years to come. This article outlines what orientation is and why it is important and identifies essential factors to consider when creating or improving an orientation program.
Orientation
Orientation Is about the Organization
Orientation accompanies training, but the two are not identical. It has frequently been noted that training emphasizes the specific details (what and how), while orientation focuses on the big picture (why). All employees should understand certain fundamentals of their organization: what it is trying to do, why it is doing that and how the particular employee contributes to these efforts. Orientation conveys these messages, providing a framework that shows the new employee where he or she fits into the organization and its aims. As one corporate training services manager succinctly expresses, "NEO [New employee orientation] should be about who we are, how new hires fit in, and why they're important."1
It Is Also about the New Employee
As noted above, orientation should express the importance of the new employee's role to achieving the organization's mission. However, the most successful orientations will also be designed with an awareness of the new employee's mindset It's typically exciting but stressful to start a new job. It can be overwhelming. In fact, new employees can feel disoriented: they may not know basics like where to park or get office supplies; they are learning colleagues' names, responsibilities, and personalities; they are discovering what is expected of them. Attending to personal and...