What is Virtual Onboarding?
Virtual onboarding is the process of onboarding a new hire in the company without any in-person interaction using digital onboarding platforms and tools. Companies hiring for remote roles have to do virtual onboarding as the employee will not attend an office.
The company provides the required resources, SOPs, and information to the new joiner to make the procedure as smooth as possible. In addition, they provide support to help new employees understand their tasks, get familiar with the company culture, and become acquainted with their colleagues.
All these activities are done using a video conferencing tool or an application like Slack or Discord.
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Why is Virtual Onboarding Important?
Virtual onboarding has multiple benefits, such as –
- Can onboard employees from other regions and countries without having them visit the office
- SOPs and training videos offer a self-paced learning environment to the new employees
- Create a streamlined and automated onboarding process by combining steps included in onboarding
- No need for event planning and save overhead costs
- It saves time as candidates can learn from the webinars and recordings without an HR or training manager working with them
What is the Virtual Onboarding Process?
The virtual onboarding procedure can be divided into three phases: pre-boarding, onboarding and integration, and ongoing support.
1. Pre-Boarding
This phase includes sending the joining confirmation email to the new hire. Provide all the relevant information, such as joining date, paperwork, and access to digital onboarding platforms.
Share necessary details about the organization, such as goals, values, products/services, visions, and expectations. In addition, make them aware of the company’s history and market positioning.
2. Onboarding and Integration
Offer virtual training to the candidate through online resources, such as webinars, video tutorials, and virtual sessions.
Arrange virtual conferences to introduce new employees to colleagues and team members. Encourage new hires to use online communication channels to engage with teammates and learn about their roles and responsibilities.
3. Ongoing Support
A new employee needs time to understand the KRAs and perform accordingly. Schedule check-ins with the manager for evaluation, feedback, guidance, and concerns.