After hiring software developers, guiding them through an effective onboarding process is critical for getting the new hire off to a good start.

This process helps remote developers feel valued and gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities. It also has the added benefit of boosting their productivity and performance, increasing engagement and loyalty. While the concept of developing an onboarding process has been around since the 1970s, a Harvard Business Review states that 22 percent of companies don’t have an onboarding process in place.

Ihor Feoktistov, CTO at Relevant, has outlined how companies can develop a strategic onboarding process with three easy steps to improve retention and developer satisfaction.

Hiring remote software developers: Three steps to an effective onboarding process 

Introductions

Onboarding remote software developers: Introduction

After hiring software developers, bombarding them with information about the company during the first day is not a great idea. Fortunately, you don’t need to wait until a developer’s first official day to begin the introductions.

1. While hiring software developers—usually during the last rounds—you can give them an idea about the tools and software platforms they would need to know. This knowledge will provide them with the chance to install these tools and get acquainted with them beforehand.
2. Brief them about your company and the individual projects in which they’d be involved. Ensure they understand the short-term and long-term goals and the tasks they need to prioritize once they get started.
3. After hiring software developers, it’s a good idea to give them an Employee Handbook that lists the rules they would need to follow. Furthermore, consider giving them a quick brief to highlight essential practices during their first onboarding meeting if the handbook is too extensive.
4. Prepare your team for the new hire before their first day. This practice will ensure your team members are ready to assist the developer when they join. You can also assign a mentor who can guide the developer through their onboarding process.

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