Starting a new job at a company is hard work. Beyond getting acclimated to the position itself, new employees must learn about the rest of the team and ease their way into the company culture.
This is a lot to take on, so job shadowing is a great way to ease the pressure. Pairing a new hire with a seasoned staffer is an effective form of training, because a firsthand introduction offers a wealth of knowledge that can’t be gained from a welcome packet and staff handbook.
Learn How and Why Things Are Done
You can’t just give a new hire a task list and expect them to hit the ground running. Job shadowing allows them to learn exactly how things are done at your company. Every business has its own unique set of processes and procedures, so the tenured employee will provide a hands-on training that allows the new hire to learn the ropes the right way.
Beyond the ‘how’ of training, job shadowing also focuses on the ‘why.’ Certain responsibilities and ways of doing things don’t always make sense to the uninformed. The long-term employee can provide much-needed background information that allows the new hire to understand the reasoning behind these rules and responsibilities.
Get Immersed in the Company Culture
Adjusting to the behaviors of a new work environment takes time. However, job shadowing can greatly expedite this process, because new hires can watch and learn. While observing, they’ll pick up on things like how employees communicate, standard workplace behaviors and performance expectations.
It’s a lot easier for new employees to pick up on cultural norms when they can sit back and watch them in motion. This reduces the learning curve, allowing people to get acclimated faster.
Find Out What the Other Person Does
Having a new hire shadow an employee with their same job is hugely effective, but don’t stop there. This system can also be a helpful way for new hires learn more about the rest of the team. Pairing them with colleagues they’ll be working with closely for a day — or even a half-day — gives them a well-rounded look at what each person on the team does.
Job titles vary greatly from one company to the next, so this exercise will give the new person a solid understanding of each person’s role and responsibilities. This will make them more effective at their jobs, because they’ll know who to go to for what.
Ready to take the next step in your career? PrideStaff North Dallas is here to connect you with temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire opportunities with top local employers. Contact us today to learn more!
