How Long Does Onboarding Take?
Onboarding duration varies by business, industry, and role, typically ranging from a short-term basic orientation of 1-30 days, to a standard 1-3 month integration period, and up to an extended 3-12 month process for complex roles, with longer onboarding improving productivity, retention, and job satisfaction by providing a gradual, comprehensive introduction to company culture, training, and relationships rather than overwhelming new hires in a single day.
Onboarding is the process of hiring and integrating a new employee into an organization and ramping them up to speed. Onboarding includes providing the information, tools, and resources new hires need to be successful in their roles. An effective onboarding process might involve orientation to help new team members feel welcome, going over the appropriate human resources (HR) information, discussing company culture, training sessions, and building relationships with colleagues. This improves long-term retention and productivity. Employee onboarding is critical to successful recruiting efforts and strong employee retention rates.
How Long Should Onboarding Take?
The answer depends on the business, industry, and specific role. Onboarding durations vary by role and sector. Research shows that only a small minority of organizations have an onboarding process that lasts six months or longer. This suggests that businesses might achieve more effective onboarding by offering a longer, more measured learning process. However, not all companies need a long onboarding phase. Onboarding length can be considered in three categories:
Phases of the Onboarding Process
- Short-term (1-30 days): Basic orientation.
- Standard (1-3 months): Role and cultural integration.
- Extended (3-12 months): For roles requiring extensive training or complex environments. A longer, comprehensive onboarding process, often extending up to a year, can increase productivity, retention, and job satisfaction by enabling new hires to get comfortable and fully integrate into the company culture.
Onboarding is more than just a day-one event. No new hire will feel comfortable in their role after a single day of information. Trying to cram all the information into one day can leave someone feeling overwhelmed and confused. Bringing someone new on board should be a longer process involving various people throughout the organization.
Factors That Influence Onboarding Length
Several factors can affect how long onboarding takes:
- The job role: Some jobs are more complicated than others. A successful onboarding process is tailored to the job in question.
- Organizational complexity: Every organization has its own internal policies, tools, and methods that can take time to learn.
- Level of guidance required: Some positions require extensive training sessions, making for a longer onboarding program.
- Employee engagement: New hires vary in how quickly they adapt and learn.
- Tools used: The right tools, such as an applicant tracking system, can help create a successful onboarding program.
Investing in a More Comprehensive Onboarding Process
The right length of onboarding depends on your company, industry, and the individual role. Experts recommend creating a comprehensive process that allows someone to ease into their job, rather than overwhelming them. Extending the onboarding experience allows for continuous learning and development.
Benefits of an Extended Onboarding
By extending the onboarding process, you can create a more positive experience for new hires. The benefits include:
Improves Knowledge Retention
Starting a new job often leads to knowledge overload. Research shows that a new hire retains about 10% of what they learn during onboarding after 30 days, but nearly three-quarters of new employees retain knowledge gained by performing essential duties. Hands-on training is more effective than passive information delivery.
Establishes a Supportive, Learning-Based Culture
A longer onboarding period can help establish a culture of continuous learning. Employees who learn over time tend to have stronger skills and better knowledge retention, driving growth and innovation.
Drives Business Success
Employees who feel comfortable and understand expectations get up and running faster, leading to improved productivity and engagement. These characteristics can influence overall business success, making it worthwhile to invest in supportive onboarding processes.
Recommendation: Spread onboarding over at least three months for lower-level roles and up to a year for higher-level positions. Provide opportunities for new hires to meet others in the company and understand how they fit into the organization's strategy and goals.
FAQs About Onboarding Length
How Do You Balance Onboarding Timelines With Time-to-Productivity?
It's not fair to judge new staff against experienced team members. Even a new hire with all the right technical skills won't be fully productive in the first week, month, or even six months. Judging and documenting how long it takes employees to get up to speed helps establish accurate and achievable time-to-productivity expectations.
What’s the Difference Between Onboarding and Orientation?
Orientation is a short-term, initial process that can be part of a larger onboarding program. Orientation provides basic information and paperwork, while onboarding covers longer-term plans to integrate employees into the company culture.
How Does Onboarding Duration Affect Employee Retention?
A comprehensive onboarding process is likely to increase job satisfaction and employee retention. Many employees who leave their jobs do so in their first few months, so taking the time to acclimate them can have positive effects.
How Long Does Onboarding Take for Remote Employees?
Remote onboarding can take anywhere from a few weeks to over six months, depending on job complexity. It might be quicker than in-office positions, but remote tools and platforms may require extra learning time.
Ready To Step Up Your Organization’s Onboarding?
A big part of an effective onboarding process is having the right tools. ApplicantStack is an applicant tracking system that helps organizations attract, interview, hire, and onboard new talent efficiently with built-in collaboration tools and data security.
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