Gamification in onboarding. How to engage new hires?

Traditionally, onboarding involves conducting training courses and presentations full of relevant information to remember. However, such a form of conveying knowledge may be monotonous and challenging for new employees to absorb (considering that the first days in a new job are usually intense). To minimize information overload, organizations across industries reach for innovative solutions, one of which is gamification. In today’s article, we’ll explain the benefits of using gamification in onboarding and show how to implement it. Read on to find out more.

What is gamification in onboarding?

Gamification in onboarding is an approach that incorporates game-like elements and game mechanics to make the onboarding process more attractive. The purpose of using gamification in onboarding is to facilitate learning, as well as integrate new hires into the organizational culture, foster team cohesion, and promote engagement from the beginning.

Using gamification in onboarding is also a chance to set your company apart from the competition and present it as an organization that reaches out to engaging tactics to make the necessary processes more exciting and interactive. Such an approach is particularly appealing to younger people in the labor market.

Examples of gamification in onboarding

It’s important to remember that gamifying the onboarding process doesn’t change its objective, which is to help new hires become familiar with the organizational structure, business goals, their roles, and the overall work environment.

The structure of this process depends on the specifics of the company and the industry it operates in. Most often, however, organizations that decide to take such an approach introduce, for example:

• Point systems – new employees earn points by completing predetermined tasks, such as attending mandatory training, meeting with their supervisor, and getting acquainted with the team. As they accumulate points, they can also progress to higher levels. These points can be later redeemed for rewards, such as extra days off, cafeteria benefit points, gifts, or the chance to participate in special training sessions or events.
• Contests – employees can engage in friendly competition by comparing their achievements with others through scoreboards and rankings. The aim is to earn more points and showcase their skills and dedication. Additionally, they might receive badges as a recognition for their accomplishments.
• Interactive training – to keep the onboarding process engaging, various interactive elements are introduced, such as videos, quizzes, puzzles, board games, and simulations during necessary training sessions or presentations.

Benefits of using gamification in onboarding

Thanks to using gamification in onboarding, the seemingly boring process becomes more interesting and engaging. As a result, the company can enjoy several benefits, the most important of which are presented below.

1. Faster learning process

Interactive quizzes, simulations, and challenges keep new hires focused and help them remember information. In this way, the onboarding process can be shortened, which is a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee. What’s more, the knowledge acquired through gamification sticks in the mind longer than when reading written material or going through lengthy presentations prepared by the HR department. As it turns out, point systems, contests, and interactive training ensure a more effective onboarding process.

2. Enhanced engagement and motivation

Incorporating game-like elements into the onboarding process boosts new employee engagement. Employees feel happy when they achieve goals, earn rewards, or advance to higher levels. This makes them more motivated to work harder and trust the organization. It also improves their performance as they absorb important information faster.

3. Tracking progress

Using gamification in onboarding (e.g., through dedicated platforms) helps track employees’ progress as they integrate into the organization. Supervisors or HR teams can monitor the way new hires are learning and achieving goals, making it easier to identify areas for improvement and provide individual support. In this way, they can also get valuable feedback to enhance the onboarding process for better outcomes.

Summary

As it’s essential to keep new hires engaged and motivated in the first weeks of employment, HR departments will seek new news to conduct the induction process. Undoubtedly, using gamification in onboarding has the potential to bring satisfactory results for all parties involved.

However, it’s important to adjust the game-like elements (point systems, rankings, badges) to fit the company’s specifics, goals, and culture. If gamification is incorporated too hastily and without striking the right balance between fun and seriousness, it can lead to entirely different results.

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