I n the fast-paced world of high-volume hiring, companies often face the conundrum of managing an influx of new hires without compromising on quality. While traditional onboarding processes are crucial, there's a lesser-known yet highly strategic element that often flies under the radar: preboarding.

What is Preboarding?
Preboarding is the period between a candidate accepting an offer and their first day on the job. This phase is critical in setting the stage for new hires and ensuring they are well-prepared to hit the ground running. Imagine Showtime Recruiting[1], a fictional retail startup that A/B tested preboarding elements across various cohorts of new hires. The preboarded group showed a 30% faster time-to-contribution when compared to their traditionally onboarded peers.

Building Connection Early
A well-structured preboarding process nurtures engagement by bridging the gap between offer acceptance and start date. Sending personalized welcome videos from team members, sharing an overview of company culture, and providing information about the team and current projects can make a huge difference. Not only does this foster a sense of belonging, but it also helps alleviate the anxiety that often accompanies starting a new job.

The Role of Technology in Preboarding
Technology plays an essential role in creating an efficient preboarding process. Using customized portals, companies can present candidates with a treasure trove of resources: prestart checklists, introductions to the company’s mission and mythology, and optional training materials. Take, for example, GreenTech Solutions, an energy firm that implemented a digital preboarding platform and saw new hire turnover during probation drop by 15%.

Operational Efficiency
Preboarding can dramatically alleviate the logistical and operational headaches that accompany high-volume hires. By collecting necessary documents, ordering equipment, and resolving administrative tasks during the preboarding phase, organizations can focus on more personalized elements come the first day of work.

Consider the financial services company Market Savvy, which streamlined its administrative processes by automating paperless onboarding tasks during preboarding. This not only improved operational efficiency but also boosted new hire satisfaction, as they experienced a seamless transition into their roles.

Setting Realistic Expectations
Transparency is key when it comes to integrating new hires quickly and smoothly. At Global Goods, a multinational retail chain, recruiters prepare comprehensive virtual walkthroughs of the company's platforms and processes to ensure new employees know what to expect before their first day at work. By dispelling uncertainties and setting realistic expectations early, preboarding minimizes the potential for disillusionment and reinforces commitment.

Creating a Feedback Loop
Establishing feedback mechanisms during preboarding allows companies to continually refine their processes. Getting input from employees on their preboarding experience can help recruiters identify what works and what doesn't, offering insightful benchmarks to tweak processes for subsequent hiring waves.

In conclusion, preboarding is a powerful but often overlooked tool that can enhance the efficacy of high-volume recruitment. It not only serves to ease the logistical burdens of traditional onboarding but also ensures that new hires start out on the right foot, feeling connected and empowered. As companies move toward more agile recruitment methods, the emphasis on preboarding is likely to grow—turning it from a niche strategy into a standard best practice.