Hiring is one of the most challenging and expensive parts of running a business. It can take weeks or even months to develop a job listing, request resumes and sort through them, and interview potential candidates. And even once a company hires someone, there’s still the onboarding process. New employees need to be oriented to the company and their role and taught the appropriate procedures. Though by embracing high tech solutions and professional counseling the challenges presented by hiring and onboarding can be taken care of really easily, businesses can speed up the process and cut the costs associated with it. Moreover, there are dedicated counseling sessions that you can get on www.betterhelp.com so as a business owner you can improve the productivity of your hiring team.

Developing An Onboarding Experience

One common mistake that businesses make around the onboarding process is that they confuse training with onboarding. Yes, teaching new hires skills is vital and will determine how well they do their job, but it’s not the same as creating an environment that welcomes them into a new workplace. According to a study published in the Academy of Management Journal and reported by Forbes, that added support is correlated with greater positivity and productivity on the part of new workers. So how can you digitize a support structure?

For a more relaxed and social onboarding experience, some companies are testing out video introductions, and these are exactly what they sound like. Employees record introductions that new staffers can review as needed rather than spending their first weeks introducing and re-introducing themselves to coworkers as they try to learn their names. It’s a small thing, but many people experience anxiety around learning the names and roles of their new colleagues. Little tools like this can help improve new employees’ experiences as they adapt to their new workplace.

Create A Training Catalog

With your onboarding intros taken care of, it’s time to turn to the training element of the hiring process. This can be the most time consuming and expensive, largely because it pulls experienced staff away from their normal jobs to teach new employees what they need to know – but it doesn’t have to be that way. One tech-enabled alternative is to create a library of training videos using recording software like Intelligent Video Solution’s VALT program. While employees will still need some real time training, video content along with sample tasks can help them get comfortable with new skills in a low-stakes way.

VR Takes On Training

Another way that new technology is transforming the training process is by allowing new hires to take a hands-on approach to the process in a digital setting. How? Using augmented and virtual reality devices (AR/VR). AR/VR activities keep employees engaged in the training process and better prepare them to perform their jobs when they transition fully into the role. The same devices can also be used to provide workers with a refresher if they’ve developed bad habits, or help staff learn more advanced skills for software they already use. AR/VR may be high-tech, but it’s also a cost saver in the long run.

Shifting to a more advanced set of onboarding and training strategies is critical for our changing workplace norms. In particular, it may help foster the development of a virtual and remote workforce. When staff are dispersed across a variety of locations, ensuring that new staff feel included, connected, and competent can be more difficult. Technology bridges the gap and connects workplace communities beyond the shared office – just in time for its disappearance.