Your company just hired a highly sought-after employee, one who likely received many job offers and accepted yours. The next step: Make sure he or she starts on the right foot.

The problem is, many companies don’t pay enough attention to an employee’s first day, leading to an uncomfortable situation that could jeopardize the chances of the new person having a long and successful tenure.

The key: Make sure all the little things are taken care of properly. There’s plenty of time for in-depth orientation programs, but the main goal of the first day is to remove any doubts the employee might have about the decision to join your company.

Here are some of the most common mistakes companies make when a new employee starts:

• The manager is late – It sounds like common sense, but it still happens far too often. Managers need to understand the importance of first impressions — and recognize a new employee shouldn’t be stuck waiting in the lobby on his first day.
• Everyone is too busy – All people involved in someone’s first day — the tour guide, anyone who needs to meet with the person, etc. — needs plenty of advance notice so they can plan their schedules accordingly and give the new employee their undivided attention.
• The workspace isn’t ready – Nothing sends a bad signal quite like a cubicle still full of an ex-employee’s junk — or one that’s missing a computer or other necessary equipment.
• They didn’t learn anything about the job – You might not be getting into orientation or detailed training yet, but new employees should still leave the first day with a better understanding of what their days are going to be like. Otherwise they’re still stuck with lingering anxieties about whether the job was the right choice.

Tags: first day, new hire, orientation