Developing a positive onboarding experience is a key factor in employee retention, yet some companies fail to give enough attention to this important part of the hiring process. Finding quality employees, especially in today’s market, is no walk in the park—it takes a lot of time and money.  Losing them, on the other hand, is easy.

Take a look at these 5 onboarding mistakes that will be sure to undo all the work you did to recruit the new employee in the first place.

1. Wing it on the employees first day
   Failing to prepare for the employees first day and week with your company will not only make your workweek more stressful, it could leave the new hire feeling overwhelmed and scattered. By having a plan for each day of the employees first week, you’ll help establish how a typical workday should run and what is expected in terms of productivity.
2. Skimp on training
   Even if your new employee comes with senior level experience or high recommendations, training should not be overlooked. Don’t drop the worker at his/her desk and then disappear, hoping for the best. Instead, give an overview of the software, programs, and processes that your company uses and make sure that the employee has access to all of the resources that will be needed to succeed.
3. Forget to introduce the employee to the rest of the team
   It’s true that your new worker will naturally begin to make connections within the company, it’s a smart idea to start that process by introducing the new recruit to the team that he/she will be working closely with. You should also give a tour of your facility to help the employee feel comfortable with their surroundings.
4. Overload the employee with information and work
   Some companies feel it’s helpful to provide a comprehensive overview of how the new hire’s position fits into company operation. While this is a good idea, it may not be necessary during the employee’s first few days. In the beginning, the employee only needs to know how to perform the tasks that he/she was hired to perform. You can put the position into a broader context at a later time, once the worker is more comfortable in the role.
5. Fail to give any feedback
   The onboarding period is the perfect time to set the right tone. If the employee is doing something wrong, don’t ignore it and allow bad habits to form. Instead, point out any mistakes in a constructive way and show the new recruit how to do it correctly. That being said, if all you do is tell the employee everything that’s being done incorrectly, he/she will be pretty discouraged. So make sure you also acknowledge and provide positive feedback when appropriate.

It’s no secret that losing an employee is expensive, costing companies up to 20% of the person’s salary. Don’t let all the money and hard work it took to find the new employee in the first place go to waste. Instead, ensure that your onboarding process is working to retain your new hires, not make them want to quit.