Onboarding is often known to be the last stage of the recruitment process – and the first step towards retention.

If done correctly – your new employee will evolve into a valuable asset to your team.

If done incorrectly – you’ll miss out on honing in your employee’s full potential, and you’ll waste your time and money.

Check out these 7 onboarding misconceptions to help you get your onboarding process started.

1. Onboarding begins on the employees’ first day – Usually, there is a gap of two-weeks from when you hire your new employee and when they first start their position. This is the time to get those small, tedious tasks out of the way, such as cleaning out their desk space, providing them with basic office supplies, creating their name badge, etc. It is key to make sure that your new employee is excited about their new role and to make them feel welcomed as their joining your team.
2. Onboarding must be done by you only – Most companies assume that the onboarding process is something that they must take care of themselves. However, this is a service that can be outsourced and done without lifting a finger.
3. Onboarding is only for large corporations – Even though onboarding can take up time and resources, it does not need to be costly. It is up to you to do whatever feels right for your company and your employees. Think outside the box when attempting to get your new employees involved.
4. Onboarding should be quick – While onboarding may be tough, it shouldn’t be handled too quickly. In some instances, onboarding an employee can take up to two years to be completed. This time limit may vary depending on the company; however, onboarding should not be considered fully completed until the employee understands the culture, services and how to work well within your company.
5. Onboarding is Human Resources’ responsibility – Contrary to popular belief, onboarding is not the same as orientation. Human Resources can present an overview of the basics, such as policies, paperwork, and mandatory training sessions, but that is only a portion of the onboarding process. Managers and team members are the people who merge a new employee into their position.
6. Onboarding is strictly for entry-level positions – No matter how many years of experience your new employee has in the industry, your company is one-of-a-kind. Your employees should know exactly how YOU operate your business from day-to-day.
7. Onboarding must be done on-site – Many businesses assume that onboarding is something that can only be done on-site. Little do they know that onboarding can be a virtual process. Processing your onboarding virtually allows you the opportunity to run several onboarding training sessions right from your employees’ computers.

At the end of the day, onboarding is more than just paperwork! The process varies from the type of business you have. Your process should be laid out specifically to integrate your new employee into their new work environment and make them feel as comfortable as possible coming into their new position.