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Orientation informs each new employee about the company. This often includes information such as products, services, and payroll. You may inform them about any dress code requirements. You don't want to do a boring orientation. You want the new employees to be alert and willing to listen. Here are four tips for employee orientation being great.

You want to keep it interesting. For example, constantly ask new employees questions. This will enable you to see who is paying attention to what you say and who isn't. You want to get input from employees.

Make sure to have enough employee manuals and training guides available when he or she walks in. Make sure that they are readable. Don't have outdated material in them. You want have current text in the books.

Make sure that everything is included in those so an employee can't say that he or she didn't know. You want them to sign certain papers to indicate that he or she was informed about it so they can't use a lousy excuse later on.

Use words that are simple. You want them to be able to understand what you are saying. Please do not talk a million miles a hour when he or she is taking notes unless they are a professional at short hand writing. You want them to be able to take their time writing down notes in order to become a better employee and more prepared than most of the rest.

Give breaks frequently. You don't want them to get overwhelmed with information all at once. Make sure to let them bring in a snack or perhaps even a drink with a cap on it. It is difficult to sit in a chair for long periods of time without taking a break so make sure they do take a break. You want to make sure that the orientation isn't too long.

Make sure that orientation only lasts about an hour or two. Some companies have orientations that last about three hours or more. It is a long time for any newbie to get extremely overwhelmed. Basically it makes them want to be doing anything else besides being there if it goes beyond a hour or two.

Make sure that you can teach a orientation class. Ask your other coworkers up on the chain in the company if you are a good enough teacher for orientation classes. Tell them that you want a honest opinion. You don't want people nearly falling asleep when you speak to them during orientation time..

Let each employee know how much money he or she is getting paid for orientation since it takes up their time. They would like to know that he or she is getting paid for the hours spent in orientation. It will help them feel better when orientation or staff meetings last longer than usual.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Shelly.
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