What is an onboarding interview

An onboarding interview is an interview conducted during the onboarding process of a new employee. The purpose of this interview is to get to know the new employee, understand his/her background and skills, and determine how the organization can best support him/her in his/her new role

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What is discussed during an onboarding interview

During the onboarding interview, expectations and goals are discussed and the new employee can ask questions about the company and his/her position. The onboarding interview can be a valuable tool to help integrate the new employee into the organization and increase the likelihood of success

Who does the onboarding interview

The onboarding interview can be conducted by different people, depending on the size and structure of the organization. Usually, the interview is conducted by the new employee’s supervisor or a member of the HR team. There may also be several people involved in the onboarding interview, such as colleagues or representatives from other departments the new employee will be working with. Most importantly, the person conducting the interview should be knowledgeable about the job requirements and expectations and be able to support the new employee as they integrate into the organization

Good interview questions during an onboarding interview

A first day at work can be quite exciting for new employees. It is understandable that they feel nervous and uncertain as they enter a new workplace, meet new people and are given new tasks and responsibilities. Give the new colleague an opportunity to share his/her experiences and highlight how they are relevant to his/her new role. It can also help to identify any gaps in the new employee’s knowledge or skills so that appropriate support can be provided to fill those gaps. It is also important to understand what the new employee hopes to achieve in his/her new role and how these goals can be supported

Questions you can ask

Other questions you can ask include:

• • Introduction
    Can you tell something about yourself
    What do you know about our company
    How did you find this position?

• • Work experience
    What is your work experience in this field? What did you do in your previous job? What skills did you learn in previous jobs?

• • Expectations
    What do you expect from this job? What are your short- and long-term career goals? How do you see yourself contributing to the growth of the company?

• • Team and collaboration
    How do you work together as a team
    Can you give an example of a successful team project
    How do you deal with conflict at work?

• • Skills and knowledge
    What skills and knowledge do you bring to this position
    What technologies and tools did you use in your previous job
     How do you stay abreast of the latest developments in your field?

• • Culture and values
    What do you think is important in a work culture
    What values are important to you in a job
    How would you describe yourself as an employee?

• • Training and development
    What training and development do you hope to receive in this job
    What new skills would you like to learn
    What would you like your professional development to look like at our company?

• • Personality and Behavior
    How would you describe yourself in terms of personality and behavior
    How do you handle stressful situations at work
    How do you communicate effectively with colleagues and supervisors?

Hope these interview topics and questions provide inspiration for the onboarding interview process. Don’t forget to also ask questions specific to the position for which the candidate is applying