Onboarding in Corona Times: How to Succeed

The article discusses how COVID-19 reshapes onboarding for new employees, especially when remote or hybrid work is the norm. It emphasizes that interpersonal connection and cultural fit matter as much as skills, and offers practical guidance for onboardees (e.g., maintain contact with HR and supervisors before start, prepare a short intro video, designate a mentor, proactively reach out to colleagues, use multiple communication channels) and for employers (e.g., ensure technical infrastructure like laptops with VPN, develop a reusable onboarding process, conduct a remote welcome, show empathy in conversations, and leverage onboarding tools such as Elearnio, Talmundo, Haufe MyOnboarding, Trello, and Personio). The piece cites survey data: a Competitve Recruiting blitz of 10,000 employers found 41% did not know how to present onboarding; Haufe Group found 77% believe onboarding can be improved; 88% report no onboarding budget; 30% of new hires resign before starting; and 90% decide within six months. It also notes preboarding and social integration as key challenges in Corona times.