Nothing frustrates hiring managers more than when the bright young star they worked so hard to recruit comes in three weeks later and says they received a counteroffer from their old boss. Or the other job they really wanted finally turned into an offer.
Good news, NSCA members: We have the cure.
Great onboarding is now a necessity – not an option – to cultivate the levels of talent we need in our businesses. The best employees will want to stay with you and grow, but only as long as you engage them properly in that crucial first-90-days period.
Why is this process so important? I’m convinced that a poorly executed onboarding process leaves new hires with the sense that your company is either disorganized or simply doesn’t care about the new employee experience.
Our new C-SIP (certificate as a systems integration professional) program is a differentiator. Much like how company culture and the hiring process are used to select the best talent, an effective and deliberate onboarding program can reinforce the culture of developing the best people in the industry. This word spreads quickly throughout the company and within your talent pool, and your business becomes known as the place where top industry talent wants to be.
C-SIP isn’t just another certification program. It’s a recognition program – a way for the company to introduce the most important elements of success to those entering their firm. When completed, this professional certificate shows that employees understand the basics of what integrators do and why those things are important as they begin their careers, as well as understanding what will be expected of them in their roles.
C-SIP was built for integration companies that believe in a promote-from-within model. Because of the various tracks it offers – sales, marketing, finance, and operations – it is a great tool for those who may want to explore other aspects or opportunities within the organization they’re already part of.
Employee connection to culture has to start immediately. One of the holes I see as I visit our member companies (yes, even the big firms) is a poorly executed onboarding program. The major flaw: Onboarding is dependent upon an existing employee making time to execute the training. This means that people are pulled away from jobs, sales trips, the golf course with a client … and the list goes on. When new hires read the fancy company culture statement hanging on your wall, yet sit around feeling ignored in real life, off they go …
The C-SIP will help you put measures in place early to make sure that doesn’t happen. New employees will become engaged right away while learning about the industry and understanding their specific role within your organization so they can hit the ground running. –Chuck Wilson, NSCA Executive Director