You're tasked with making virtual onboarding exciting for new hires. How do you keep them engaged?
Virtual onboarding can be just as engaging as in-person if you focus on interaction and connection. Here are some strategies to keep new hires excited:
What innovative strategies have worked for your virtual onboarding sessions?
You're tasked with making virtual onboarding exciting for new hires. How do you keep them engaged?
Virtual onboarding can be just as engaging as in-person if you focus on interaction and connection. Here are some strategies to keep new hires excited:
What innovative strategies have worked for your virtual onboarding sessions?
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Use quizzes to test knowledge on company culture, policies, or the role itself. Polls can be used to gather immediate feedback or encourage participation during training sessions, making it feel more like a conversation rather than a lecture. Personalizing onboarding makes new hires feel valued and ensures they understand how their role fits within the broader company goals. Schedule check-ins during the first 30, 60, and 90 days. These sessions allow new hires to voice any concerns, discuss their progress, and ensure they're adapting well to the company culture. A centralized portal allows new hires to easily access resources, documents, and onboarding content at their own pace.
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Virtual onboarding would be one of the key approach to familiarize new hire's with company functionings. To make the process effactive, first step would be to organize a welcoming session projecting videos on Company cultures and a virtual tour, achievements and the specific sections that new hirers are going to contribute. Make them feel their responses are counted. Incorporate interactive sessions with key team members to get connected and build network. Furthermore, highlighting new hire's roles and responsibilities would make the process more interactive and a successful one. Adding quizes, puzzles or polls may be utilised to get their feedbacks on the overall process.
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Making virtual onboarding exciting requires a mix of creativity, structure, and personal touch. Here’s how to keep new hires engaged: 1. Warm Welcome 2. Interactive Sessions 3. Team Integration 4. Engaging Content 5. Frequent Check-ins 6. Celebrate Small Wins
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Whether virtual or one to one, the end in mind is to make a strong impression on the new hires and show them that they did the right & smart decision to join. Send them in advance a Personalized Welcome Kit that includes a welcome letter, and any necessary tech equipment. Add a personal touch, like a handwritten note from the team. Avoid marathon video calls. Use shorter, interactive sessions spread across several days. Incorporate live presentations, self-paced learning, and group activities to keep things fresh. Assign a peer mentor who can answer questions and help the new hire navigate the company. Keep them engaged during presentations with interactive tools. Net, let them know that they are truly Welcome!
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Pre-boarding is just as important and the onboarding of new starters. Think about the journey moving from candidate through to employee and put yourself in the individuals shoes. Setting the scene for that new hire in the lead up to them joining your business will help them feel more engaged and aligned in those first few days.
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To make virtual onboarding exciting, I would start by creating a welcoming and interactive experience. I’d use engaging content, such as welcome videos, virtual tours, and interactive presentations, to introduce the company culture and values. I’d incorporate live sessions with key team members, allowing new hires to ask questions and build connections. Gamifying the process with cahoot quizzes or challenges can make learning about the company fun. Additionally, I’d provide clear guidance on their role and expectations while encouraging feedback to make the onboarding process feel personal and engaging.
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The first step in making virtual onboarding exciting is to create an icebreaker that gets people talking and feeling comfortable. Starting with a simple, fun activity helps new hires break the initial awkwardness and feel more connected, even if they're miles away. It could be something as simple as sharing a fun fact about themselves, or a quick game to get to know each other. Then, in the middle of onboarding, make it interactive and engaging. Encourage new hires to ask questions, share their thoughts, and even collaborate on small projects or tasks.
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I feel it's not only key to familiarize new hires with the organization (mission, values, etc.), but important to get them immediately connected to its people, which gives them a true foothold at their new company. I invite current employees to participate in the onboarding process. In a virtual setting, Zoom breakout rooms can be used to pair a new hire with an existing employee for a 6-minute intro meeting, along with an icebreaker question for support. This can be repeated over 30 minutes, so a new hire can ultimately meet with 3 or 4 of the company's most hospitable employees. One of them can be from their own department but the rest -- random. Participants then follow up with a welcome email to the new hire. 🤍
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1. Ask them randomly to share their experiences, ideas, and even funny memories about the concept of training. 2. Use online quizzes(for example Menti questions) for each part of training.
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Use interactive tools : Incorporate quizzes, polls, and breakout rooms to keep things lively. ✔Quizzes and Polls: Use platforms like Kahoot, Mentimeter, or Slido to create real-time quizzes and polls. These tools allow participants to test their knowledge, share opinions, and engage actively in sessions. ✔Breakout Rooms: Tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams enable small group discussions in breakout rooms. These spaces encourage collaboration, networking, and deeper conversations about specific topics. ✔Virtual Whiteboards: Platforms such as Miro or MURAL let participants brainstorm, share ideas, and visualize processes together in real time.
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