As an IT leader you are well aware that almost every major task your colleagues will work on at your organization involves technology and digital transformation, so preparing for her first day is a critical responsibility for your team. According to a 2016 Forbes Insight article,"new hires are most likely to quit within the first three to six months of employment" making the onboarding stage “a small window of opportunity for an organization to make a good impression.”

Unfortunately, when technology isn’t ready for a new hire or set up correctly, that initial impression takes a hit. Plus, your IT team can get frustrated when they have to interrupt critical time-sensitive projects to set up new systems without notice. Of course, systems also have to be available for set up and that can involve back and forth with your purchasing team or IT supplier.

And yet technology for new hires has to be done well and it has to be done right. The good news is that there are some tried and true steps you can take that will make HR, your team, and especially that new hire happy.

1. Make sure your team uses the checklist during system set up so nothing is missed. And if you’re using a refurbished system, don’t forget to account for a cleaning process for the system. One of our customers had an incident with a newly hired executive who agreed to accept a refurbished system. It showed up on his desk with a keyboard filled with crumbs from a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Yikes!
   
   
2. Manage and have visibility into your system stock. How many new systems do you have on hand for new hires? How many refurbished systems are available? If you’re out of stock, what standard lead times do you have for new systems? Is there any way to shorten lead times from your system supplier? Who is your main POC, internal or external, to get you this information?
   
   
3. Remember that new hires are nervous about their first day. Working with an engaged colleague that is informative, helpful, and supportive will go a long way to make them feel at home. Train your staff to understand the important role they play in initial employee engagement.

In our experience providing IT solutions to our valued partners, we’ve found these to be effective steps in ensuring new hires have the tools they need from the start of the onboarding process.