Virtual Onboarding Experiences

Virtual onboarding is becoming a new normal for many new hires in the context of a global pandemic outbreak. For those that never experienced a virtual onboarding process, there could be a sense of reluctance or anxiety. After all, you cannot simply assume that virtual onboarding experiences fully replicate in-person interactions occurring on premise.

Yet, your physical location or global circumstances should not dictate the quality of your virtual onboarding experience. As such, this article will discuss the virtual onboarding and the new hire experience. We have collected some virtual onboarding experiences and new hires virtual experience feedback. In this way, we can draw some conclusions on how to foster the best employee onboarding experiences.

If you want to read more in-depth employee onboarding experiences, we have conducted multiple interviews which you can find on our website.

Defining Virtual Onboarding

A virtual onboarding experience was not unheard of among the new hires of business organisations prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the lock-downs imposed due to the virus caused many businesses worldwide to adjust their customary in-person onboarding process. This meant embracing technological tools in a quest of bridging the physical distance of working remotely.

Before investigating both virtual onboarding and the new hire experience and the insights gathered from virtual onboarding experience feedback, it is useful to establish what is a virtual onboarding process.

Virtual Onboarding

We have already devoted an entire article to the topic of What is a Virtual Employee Onboarding Process?. But, let’s briefly review what it means for you as a new hire when starting a new job remotely. Let’s see what you can expect when you signed up to a virtual onboarding programme. 

Virtual onboarding refers to the process of integrating you into a new company. The entirety of this process takes place remotely via virtual tools, such as video conferencing tools, online resources and webinars.

Defining the Virtual Onboarding Experience

A virtual onboarding experience refers to your feelings towards receiving a virtual onboarding. When dealing with virtual experiences, there is always a question of how do these experiences measure up against on-premise onboarding experiences.

Hence, your virtual onboarding experience are gathered by interacting with the tools, training  and information necessary for the new hire in order to become a productive member of the team and by facilitating cultural and social integration. 

The Best Onboarding Experiences

Normally, the best onboarding experiences are associated with being in a new physical setting. This implies: a new company, a new workstation, a new team of people. Thus, there seems to be a correlation between positive experiences and a very direct form of interaction.

However, it is worth stating that although arising as a necessity for many organisations and employees, virtual onboarding does not have to imply a lesser quality process than in-person or on-premise onboarding. Indeed, many virtual onboarding experiences highlight that you can still feel connected and included in your company even when not sharing a physical space. This is particularly relevant, as more employees are changing their work modes and applying more hybrid work work-models.

Indeed, we are going to show that virtual onboarding experiences can be just as rewarding, inspiring and empowering. However, creating such positive virtual onboarding experiences does require some special attention.

Employee Virtual Onboarding Experience Feedback

Virtual onboarding should enable new hires to know their new employers’ values and mode of operations from their remote locations. Let’s review some virtual onboarding experience feedback collected by the introdus team.

One of the virtual new hire experiences is that of Sean Choi, Senior Strategist at The Martin Agency. Reflecting on his virtual onboarding journey, he described it as “empowering and quite educational in the sense of making all the employees feel prepared.” 

According to Sean, with virtual onboarding activities, employees were introduced to the company’s operations and culture. He also remarked that virtual onboarding provides a sense of connection among the employees with the virtual chats and virtual coffee chats. It is a mode of recreating the experience one could have in the office. He concluded by highlighting the need for creative solutions for making new hires feel connected. “I think there are lots of different creative ways that people can bring to life as we all work from home.”

In his virtual onboarding experience feedback, Bo Cui, a Junior SEO Specialist at MediaGroup Worldwide focused on the training component of his onboarding process. “Virtual onboarding exposed me to many online courses that improved my capacity to perform my role as an SEO specialist.”

Aditionally, Bo reflected on the utility of communication and collaboration tools. He highlighted that these tools enabled him to exchange ideas and learn different skills from his team mates. He saw this as a way of enhancing his competence while still in the induction process.

Virtual Onboarding and The New Hire Experience: Concluding Remarks

To conclude, virtual onboarding and the new hire experience have been a challenge for many employers and employees alike. Creating positive new hire virtual onboarding experiences might require extra consideration, but this does not mean it is impossible.

Though virtual onboarding, companies can establish the proper engagement with their new hires. This is achievable through video communication, collaboration, and training tools that enhance employees’ productivity. In turn, positive virtual onboarding experiences of the new hires can have a high impact on their tenure in the company, prolonging their stay in the company.

No doubt, the success of virtual onboarding can depend on the nature of the software used to undertake the exercise. A tool like introdus, employee onboarding software, will make the new hires experience a fulfilling virtual onboarding process. It is embedded with a tailor-made plan that will foster fun and insightful experiences. For example, through the educational videos, you become ready to hit the ground running. 

With the right onboarding tools, you are assured of a great virtual onboarding experience. This will aid you in understanding the company’s ethics and, at the same time, contribute your quota to the growth and productivity of your new work organisation.