New Graduate Expectations
I expect the things I’ve been told happen within the first few days, so it does not feel so confusing.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
Expectations of a New Graduate
“Feeling wanted by the company is a big motivation”
New graduates feel high levels of excitement and motivation when starting their first full time job. However, according to a survey by Prospects, 82% of graduates in 2020 said that they felt disconnected from their employers. Meanwhile, 83% said that the pandemic has caused a lack of motivation. So, we might think, what are we doing wrong?
Tom Ramshaw, a recent graduate of Aalborg University, shared some of his expectations for his first job in Denmark. He would like to get involved straight away, to be constantly engaged by his new employer, and to receive relevant information as soon as signing his employment contract.Â
The Perfect First Day on the Job
To help you succeed in your first role and not leave you confused, strategic and structured Pre & Onboarding plans should be set in place by your new workplace. They will illustrate how you can ease into your role, especially if this is your first job.
Preboarding should make you feel comfortable, confident and prepared even before your day 1 starts. It would also help you get fully immersed and connected to your new workplace. Tom Ramshaw shares what a perfect scenario for his first day on the job would look like.Â
What would be the perfect scenario for your first day on the job?
Preboarding Expectations
Preboarding is important to start building relationships and connections before you even start your day-to-day tasks.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
Preboarding Expectations
Preboarding is important to start building relationships and connections before you even start day-to-day tasks.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
Foster Connections Before Day 1
Building the foundations of strong work relationships is crucial for you to succeed and for settling into your new role. Having meaningful social connections makes you feel like you are part of the company. In turn, this will contribute to making you feel happier, more engaged, and more productive. When you go through Preboarding, you are able to start building relationships and connections even before day 1.Â
For Tom Ramshaw, Preboarding “would be ideal if that was part of the company’s policies. You could get to know what other people are doing, what their background is, how you could work together.”
Would you go through Preboarding? Why?
WORK BUDDY INSIGHTS
A buddy onboarding for new hires helps build an immediate personal connection between the new employee & the organisation.
—The Society for Human Resource Management.
Onboarding Buddy for New Hires
Starting a new job is daunting, and the last thing you should experience on your first day is being bombarded with paperwork and information, and having no time to breathe. Having a Buddy Onboarding can help you transition into your new role easily. It can also ensure a great first day experience. Aside from that, your work buddy will help you by:
- Providing a clear point of contact during Pre & Onboarding.
- Ensuring a smoother cultural acclimation process.
- Giving fast access to knowledge about “how do we get things done around here.”
Tom Ramshaw also anticipates how an onboarding buddy will help him navigate the start of a job. “You’re always going to need someone to lean on. Especially in my case: it’s my first job in Denmark. In case I didn’t know where to go, what to do or who to call. It could be a buddy, or someone that has gone through a similar process recently.”
However, from the results of our Pre & Onboarding Survey 2021, only 36% of the respondents were introduced to their Onboarding Buddy before their first day.
Download ‘Your Pre & Onboarding Buddy’ eBook, where you can find all kinds of useful information for a new employee. The eBook also includes tips for how to feel connected, prepared, and safe in your new position even before the first day.
PRE & ONBOARDING EXPECTATIONS
You’re always going to need someone to lean on, especially in my case: it’s my first job in Denmark.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
PRE & ONBOARDING EXPECTATIONS
You’re always going to need someone to lean on, especially in my case: it’s my first job in Denmark.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
What information you think is vital on your Onboarding?
The Worst First Day Scenario
Starting a new job can be exhausting and overwhelming, as you are dealing with experiences that are unfamiliar. One of the greatest benefits of a good Pre & Onboarding is that you will establish stronger connection with your team, perform better, learn faster and produce quality work quicker!
However, if you experience a bad Onboarding, you are more likely to find different opportunities and leave your job.Â
With this context, it’s crucial for your workplace to work hard for giving you a positive first impression with an effective and structured Onboarding programme. Especially considering that, according to a Gallup poll, only 12% of new hires think their companies did a good job of Onboarding, and 55% feel like they’re not engaged at work.Â
Tom Ramshaw shares what a worst scenario for his first day would look like.
What would be the worst scenario for your first day on the job?
PRE & ONBOARDING INSIGHTS
Not getting along with your team would be the worst thing when starting a new job.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.
PRE & ONBOARDING INSIGHTS
Not getting along with your team would be the worst thing when starting a new job.
—Tom Ramshaw, Sustainable Design, MSC in Engineering, Aalborg University.