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Unlocking the secrets to successful onboarding: best practices for welcoming new talent into your organization

Unlocking the secrets to successful onboarding: best practices for welcoming new talent into your organization

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Starting a new job is exciting, but it can also be stressful and challenging. Without a formal onboarding process, the toughest parts of the first days, weeks, and months at work are amplified—which isn’t good for your new employee, or for your business. A 2018 onboarding survey by Glassdoor, showed that employees who rated their onboarding experience as ‘highly effective’ were 18 times more likely to feel highly committed to their organization.

Here are the do’s (and a few don’ts) for establishing an onboarding process that warmly welcomes new workers and sets them up for success:

Formalize the process

The Society of Human Resource Management found that effective onboarding processes improve retention by 52% and productivity by 60%. Without a thought-out plan in place, it’s too easy for new hires to be forgotten in a bustling start-up, or when their first day happens during a busy week, or in the midst of a production crisis. 

An established onboarding process that is repeated with each hire ensures new employees have the information they need and a proper introduction to the workplace, no matter what is happening on any given day. Many companies establish onboarding checklists to keep the process moving and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.

Make it more than just paperwork

On average, a new starter is expected to complete 54 tasks during their onboarding process. 58% of organizations say that most of their onboarding programs are focused on processes and paperwork. If possible, take care of the bulk of paperwork before a new employee comes in for the first day. This helps to avoid communication breakdown, and shifts the focus of the onboarding process to the unique skills and talents that your new employee will bring to their team. 

It’s important to keep the employee at the heart of the onboarding process. Too often, managers pay too much attention to programs, job requirements and systems, and while critical, onboarding should be broader. Effective and engaging onboarding must encompass your employer value proposition and highlight how your new employee’s career can grow and how their impact will be felt. Successful onboarding is like a road map that helps new hires envision their future with your business.

Facilitate connection

Part of being a new employee is entering an unfamiliar environment with unfamiliar people. While HR can help ease the transition from the recruitment process to day 1, it’s your new starter’s colleagues who will impact their daily experience with your organization.  

You can assist during this transitionary phase by setting time aside for your new starter to build connections, like a team lunch, coffee catch-ups, or a welcome event (be it virtual or face-to-face). Time for introductions and chit-chat can help newbies get past their first-day jitters.

Additionally, consider assigning your new starter with an experienced mentor whom they can consult with. Making sure your new starter has a dedicated resource to ask questions or discuss any challenges they may be faced with is important in the early stages of a new role. Mentors can facilitate an immediate connection, but also offer a new employee an opportunity to build a network. 

What comes after onboarding?

Within the first six to 12 months, your new employee should feel that they are up to speed and an integral part of the team. But the need for training, and a sense of connection with coworkers and the company’s mission never goes away. This is where your employee engagement strategies and career development plans take over to ensure your people feel supported throughout their employment.

A talent partner can help you implement or redesign your onboarding process to improve your retention rates and reduce employee turnover. Click here to read more about how we have helped our clients with their onboarding process or talk to one of our talent experts.

This article was originally published in 2018, we have since updated it with the latest insights of our talent experts to share actionable and relevant talent advice. 

Hudson RPO

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The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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Arah Longford: 33 Years Supporting & Shaping Hudson RPO

Arah Longford: 33 Years Supporting & Shaping Hudson RPO

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At Hudson RPO, few employees have made as tremendous and long-lasting an impact as Arah Longford. Over more than three decades, Arah has connected and supported Hudson RPOs executive leadership, board, and team across all levels of the organization. She’s tackled ever-increasing responsibilities in corporate functions including human resources and event planning.

Today, as HR Administrator and Executive Assistant to the CEO, Arah faithfully serves the Board of Directors and Management Team. She plans, coordinates, and executes priorities and initiatives to improve the overall health, productivity, and happiness of the Hudson RPO team.

Celebrating three decades with Hudson RPO

Warm, empathetic, and calm under pressure, Arah is known as a quiet achiever who is admired for her professionalism, nurturing spirit and intelligence. She is among Hudson RPOs longest tenured employees and has been involved in our journey since joining the company in 1990.

As we recognize and celebrate Arah’s 33rd work anniversary, we asked Arah to take us back to Hudson RPOs earlier days, to share her proudest moments, and offer advice to others who are also navigating tides of change.

“Arah is truly one of a kind. It's impossible to summarize the impact she's made on our business and team over 33 years. One of the most loyal and consistent people with whom I have ever worked. Hudson RPO is better because of her commitment and her hard work. We are grateful for all that she does.”

—Jeff Eberwein, Chief Executive Officer, Hudson Global, Inc.

Hired by Hudson RPO (Ward Howell International) in 1990, Arah’s first impression was one of excitement. She enjoyed being part of a new company and a growing team. At the time, Hudson RPO was a spin-off from TMP/Monster Worldwide, the parent company of monster.com. Her excitement has stayed with her over the years as Hudson RPO has evolved its focus from talent marketing to what is known today as recruitment process outsourcing (RPO).

“Arah is a highly valued colleague who gets her work done with absolute professionalism, integrity, warmth and a high degree of competence. She genuinely cares for people and manages time zones and logistics like no other! Arah is cool under pressure and takes everything in her stride. Our business would not be the same without her.” 

— Kimberley Hubble, CEO, Asia Pacific at Hudson RPO

Navigating changing tides

In her tenure with Hudson RPO, Arah has been part of several organizational changes. Arah has used these opportunities to fuel her ability to adapt and step into new roles, while also growing her skills and taking on new challenges.

“Arah’s unwavering commitment to her work, her colleagues, and organization have enabled her to make a lasting impact here at Hudson RPO. Her active listening, practical advice, and compassionate nature have been the cornerstone of her success and the reason why she is admired and respected by all who have had the privilege of working with her.”

— Darren Lancaster, CEO, Americas and EMEA at Hudson RPO

A proud history

When asked to describe her favorite career highlights, Arah pointed to the opportunity to work with so many different people and personalities. She is a proud recipient of the Aspire Award, a peer recognition program which celebrates innovation, service and learning.

With an eye for detail and stellar organizational skills, Arah has been actively involved in planning the Aspire Awards in recent years, as well as other retreats and meetings that bring business leaders together to share best practices, deepen relationships and collaborate.

“Arah knows our business inside and out and is one of the most positive people we have ever worked with. She is a great advocate on solutions and a key contributor to our success!”

— Joe Belluomini, CEO, Technology, Hudson RPO

“Working with Arah has been a true privilege. Her commitment inspires all of us.”

— Seonaid MacMillian, Global Finance Director, Hudson RPO

Words of wisdom

While Arah says it’s difficult for her personally to turn off work when taking days off, she points to her time with family, friends and her grandchildren as a healthy respite and energizer.

Her advice to team members and leaders as they advance in their careers. “Speak from your heart and never settle. You must enjoy what you are doing.” Coming from someone who has served at the helm of Hudson RPO and onboarded hundreds of employees in the North American business, those are certainly words to take to heart.

“Arah doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She supported us in successfully doubling our team in 2022. Thank you, Arah, for everything you have done.”

— Tim Farrelly, CEO, Coit Group, a Hudson RPO company.

In gratitude

Congratulations, Arah, for 33 years of exceptional leadership support and dedication. We are grateful to have you on our team.

Hudson RPO

Content Team

The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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How to spot a recruitment scam and protect yourself

How to spot a recruitment scam and protect yourself

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Recruitment scams happen when a scammer claims to be a recruitment agent, approaching you for a job that does not exist. Unfortunately, job scams and phishing in the recruitment sector is increasing, and we are aware that scammers are unlawfully using the Hudson RPO name and logo in an attempt to obtain your personal and/or financial information. These scams prey upon an individual’s desire to obtain a job and they can sometimes “feel” like a genuine recruitment process.

Whilst employment fraud is becoming increasingly sophisticated, the best way to help prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a job scam is to educate yourself on things to look out for during your job search.

We have set out our top tips to help you spot a potential job scam.

  • Beware of initial contact via WhatsApp. This is currently the platform of choice for scammers.
  • Poor spelling or grammar in communications.
  • The job description is vague or poorly written.
  • Communications are from generic addresses such as Gmail or Hotmail accounts.
  • You are asked for unnecessary personal information before submitting your application.
  • You are asked to click unsolicited links or attachments.
  • You are offered a job offer immediately or without an interview.
  • You are instantly offered a high salary.
  • You are requested to open a cryptocurrency wallet for financial transactions.

Remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

An example of a current scam in circulation goes like this:

WhatsApp contact: Hi How are you?

WhatsApp contact: Nice to meet you. I’m Eunice from Hudson RPO. We are urgently hiring for several job positions. May I share the position details with you?

WhatsApp contact: This is our package. PT£32-£38 per hour. FT £900 -£1100 per week.Located in the UK. A flexible application is available to accommodate your schedule. No contract or investment is needed. British Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Visa holder (T&C)

WhatsApp contact: Can the person in charge forward the full job details to your WhatsApp? You can take a look and decide if it suits your preference.

What to do if you think you are the victim of a job scam

  • Take a screen grab or note of the fraudster’s details and report them to Action Fraud, the UK cybercrime reporting centre Action Fraud. If you have given them any money, contact your bank immediately and let them know.
  • Warn the operators of the website/social media site through which you were contacted and let them know that their site is being used by fraudsters.

You can find more information on employment fraud and recruitment scams on the UK Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/understanding-the-impact-of-job-scams

Hudson RPO

Content Team

The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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Scam Warning

Scam Warning

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We have been made aware that someone using the name ‘Eunice from Hudson RPO’ has been contacting individuals about job opportunities via WhatsApp.  This is a scam and does not emanate from any employee within our company.  We have reported this to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre.

You can find more details regarding how scammers may try to take advantage of job candidates by pretending to represent well-known companies, including Hudson RPO here:  Scam Warning – Hudson RPO.

Hudson RPO takes data protection and data privacy extremely seriously.  If you have cause to be concerned about a potential data breach, you can find more details here: EMEA Privacy Policy – Hudson RPO or contact us at [email protected].

Hudson RPO

Content Team

The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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Hudson RPO APAC celebrates Top 2 ranking on HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen list

Hudson RPO APAC celebrates Top 2 ranking on HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen list

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Hudson RPO APAC has ranked second in Asia Pacific in the regional Baker’s Dozen list for APAC Overall Leaders and additionally for APAC Quality of Service Leaders.

For the 13th consecutive year, Hudson RPO (NASDAQ: HSON) has been ranked among HRO Today magazine’s Baker’s Dozen list of top enterprise recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) providers globally. 

The annual RPO Baker’s Dozen reflects the views of senior HR decision makers. The list is based on a survey of industry professionals, including RPO clients, who analyse and rank services offered across the market.  The Baker’s Dozen survey is considered a leading global indicator of top recruitment outsourcing providers.

“We are incredibly honoured to make the Baker’s Dozen list and I am thrilled we are recognised as number 2 for both APAC Overall Leaders and APAC Quality of Service Leaders. This result is a reflection of our people, and their continuous efforts in solving new problems and helping us create exceptional client outcomes,” said Kimberley Hubble, CEO of Hudson RPO Asia Pacific. 

About the Baker’s Dozen survey

Results of the Baker’s Dozen were based on a client satisfaction survey completed by verified global customers who use recruitment outsourcing services.  Respondents rated RPO providers on the overall breadth of service, deal size, and service quality. 

About Hudson RPO

Hudson Global, Inc. is a leading total talent solutions provider operating under the brand name Hudson RPO. We deliver innovative, customised recruitment outsourcing and total talent solutions to organisations worldwide.  Through our consultative approach, we design tailored solutions to meet our clients’ strategic growth initiatives.  As a trusted advisor, we meet our commitments, deliver quality and value, and strive to exceed expectations. For more information, please visit us at www.hudsonrpo.com

Hudson RPO

Content Team

The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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Hudson RPO China Team recognised in 2022 China Recruiting & Staffing Solution Provider Value Awards for 3rd consecutive year

Hudson RPO China Team recognised in 2022 China Recruiting & Staffing Solution Provider Value Awards for 3rd consecutive year

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We are thrilled to announce Hudson RPO China Team has been recognised in HR Excellence China’s (HREC) 2022 China Recruiting & Staffing Solution Provider Value Award. This prestigious award was evaluated by 411 HR professionals from 20 different industries and across both multi-national and local companies.

The Hudson RPO China team stood out in its evaluation for market awareness: 40.15% compared to a 30.43% market average. And most importantly for the number of existing clients who would recommend Hudson RPO to others; our China team scored 100% compared to a 79.18% market average.

HREC 2022 logo

Susan Fan, Country Director, China for Hudson RPO says,

“We are incredibly proud and honoured to be recognised by HREC with this award for RPO excellence. We have an exceptional team here in China who are viewed by our clients as their trusted partners and advisors. We strive to develop tailored talent solutions that support our client’s strategic growth initiatives, and deliver high-quality talent through a superior experience for candidates and hiring managers.”

Our winning team

About Hudson RPO

Hudson Global, Inc. is a leading global talent solutions provider listed on the NASDAQ. Operating under the brand name Hudson RPO we have delivered innovative, customised recruitment outsourcing solutions in the APAC region for more than 35 years.  We provide solutions across all categories of talent – internal, permanent, fixed term contract and temporary.  Through our consultative “trusted advisor” approach, we develop tailored talent solutions, designed to meet our clients’ strategic growth initiatives and deliver quality and value.

About HREC

Human Resource Excellence China (HREC) is a high-end, professional, and influential membership organization for professionals in the field of human resources in China. There are more than 3,800 companies joining HREC as corporate members. Among China’s Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 2000, more than 90% of them are members of HREC.

Hudson RPO

Content Team

The Hudson RPO Content Team is made up of experts within the Talent Acquisition industry across the Americas, EMEA and APAC regions. They provide educational and critical business insights in the form of research reports, articles, news, videos, podcasts, and more. The team ensures high-quality content that helps all readers make talent decisions with confidence.

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