4 Questions About Work Orientation New Employees Are Too Afraid To Ask

Starting a new job is exciting and nerve-wracking, regardless of a person’s age or job title. A new job means new people, new opportunities, and—in many ways—a whole new future. However, it also means having to absorb a ton of new information and training. Sometimes that information overload leaves new employees with a long list of questions they may be too nervous to ask.

Here are four common questions new employees probably have but may be afraid to ask:

1. Is more training available after the first round of orientation and training?

   Sometimes employees go through the new-employee orientation and training programs and still feel uneasy about their role and responsibilities. They might still wonder:

   • What am I responsible for?

   • How will my performance be evaluated?

   • Who should I turn to if I need help completing tasks?

   Knowing that new employees still have questions is half the battle—now you can either update your work-orientation program and training materials to include this information or you can make sure to supply it after the fact. Either way, employees should be encouraged to ask questions and seek out additional training if necessary. The last thing anyone wants is for management to think the new hires are up to speed when the reality is that new employees are struggling with the materials and failing to comply with policies and procedures.

2. What can I expect?

   The whole point of work orientation is to prepare new hires and give them the tools they’ll need to succeed. Part of that is letting them know, as best you can, what to expect on a day-to-day basis, as well as what to expect long-term. The more thoroughly employees understand their role and responsibilities, the more successful they will be. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for new hires to still not know what is expected of them, even after a few months on the job. This information should be conveyed during orientation or you can expect new employees to flounder in the beginning.

3. What should I bring to work?

   Depending on the job, employees may need to bring or obtain certain supplies to complete their work. If certain materials or supplies are needed on day one, new hires need to be informed in advance. If this information is not communicated, employees will have numerous questions during or after the work-orientation program.

4. Are there options available for completing orientation and training?

   Not every employee or situation is the same, so many companies are now providing options for completing work orientation and training. For example, are new employees relocating for the job or have they given their two weeks at their former job? If you want new hires to complete work orientation before their first day on the job, you may want to consider providing your orientation online. When work orientation and training is available online, employees are empowered to review the materials when it is convenient for them, from the location of their choosing. This option is especially helpful if you want new hires to be up to speed on day one.

   The option of taking training online also brings us back to our first question: “Is more training available after the first round of orientation and training?” If updates and refreshers are available online, employees can continue their education and brush up on certain areas whenever they see fit.

   It’s never too early to anticipate what questions your new employees will have—and the better prepared you are to answer these questions, the better off everyone will be down the road.