By Sam Borsari
As HR professionals, you understand how critical the first 90 days are for a new hire. A thoughtful onboarding experience can make a significant impact on retention and long-term success. This is especially true for Gen Z employees.
With a new class of graduates coming your way this Spring, it’s time to take a closer look at what effective onboarding looks like for this generation.
To better understand how employers can improve their onboarding approach, I turned to LinkedIn and my own personal network. Going straight to the source, I asked current Gen Z workers to share their onboarding experiences thus far….What worked, what didn’t, and what helped them get up to speed quickly.
Here’s what they think are the key components of a successful onboarding process for Gen Z new hires.
1) Intentional Introductions.
Gen Z values having relationships with their teams and colleagues. However, this can be intimidating for someone who is new to the workforce and doesn’t yet understand workplace dynamics, especially when interacting with more senior employees. Having scheduled sit-downs with people across departments (built into the onboarding schedule) can ease that tension, support introductions, and help the new hire feel valued and welcomed right off the bat. It also gives Gen Z employees a clearer understanding of the organizational structure, key players, and provides a comfortable space to ask questions.
2) Open Door Policy.
For many Gen Z new hires, you may be their first full-time employer out of college. They are going to have questions, especially if they care about doing the job well and growing in their career. Knowing that the company has an open door policy gives them a safe space to learn, make mistakes, bring new ideas to the table, and adjust more quickly. It also helps them feel less isolated if they are struggling, because they know they have a support system. Encouraging them to come to you with questions, concerns, or even just to talk things through can make a big difference in their success.
3) Mentorships & Shadowing.
Having dedicated one-on-one time with a seasoned employee (particularly someone in their department or role) was also mentioned as a major factor in onboarding success. Starting a new role comes with a lot of information. You are learning the job functions, culture dynamics, daily processes, etc. It can be overwhelming, especially for someone new to the workforce. Having someone to shadow during the first few weeks helps ease that transition and gets them up to speed faster. Shadowing allows the new hire to see the role in action. They can observe how situations are handled, ask questions in real time, and better understand decision-making.
4) Constant Feedback and Check-ins.
This goes without saying, but Gen Z strongly values frequent feedback. Regular check-ins help them understand where they are doing well and where they can improve.This is especially important early on, when they are still in the learning process. Ongoing feedback provides direction, builds confidence, and reinforces that they are on the right track. It also shows that there is support behind them as they learn the role.
5) No Assumptions.
Gen Z, like any emerging generation, faces numerous stereotypes and assumptions on things like presumed work habits. It’s important not to lean into those. Instead, ask your new hires how they learn best. If you want them to adapt quickly, think about how you can provide the right tools and support during their onboarding process. Do they learn best hands-on, through shadowing, or through more structured training?
While you don’t need to completely change your onboarding process for your Gen Z hires, it’s
important to recognize that even small adjustments can make a meaningful difference in how
quickly they adapt, build confidence, and adjust to your organization. If you’re looking for
further support on how you can strengthen your existing onboarding process, don’t forget to
reach out to the team at EANE. We are here to be your strategic thought partner and would be
happy to chat through different options.