Exceptional Ways To Help A New Contractor Succeed

This month, why not reach out to help a new contractor learn how to hit the ground running? Here are easy-peasy ways to help a new hire adjust to their role and quickly become an effective member of your team.

As someone who knows and understands your organization, you can personally volunteer to mentor a new contractor. You’ll help your mentee more quickly catch on to what it takes to succeed—and to grow—within your company. There are several things you can do.

• Explain new and unfamiliar organizational procedures and de-mystify organizational culture
• Help them to solve a problem, develop new skills…even walk them through a tricky procedure or document
• Offer feedback and constructive criticism of their work at regular intervals
• Introduce them to others—within and outside your company, thereby helping them feel accepted and appreciated by their new colleagues
• Provide tips on career growth and the path(s) up the ladder within the industry
• Share stories about your own first days or weeks at work and how you handled them

Because you’re a peer, the information that you convey will be personal, relevant, and compelling. Because you are there to help, they will feel that your company is heavily invested in their success and growth. As the weeks pass and the contractor settles into his or her position, you can, and should, continue to be there for them when they need advice. 

The mentee is not the only one who will benefit from this mentoring relationship. Through this process, you may increase your confidence and on-the-job satisfaction. Additionally, your mentee’s questions may help you develop a better understanding of company issues, along with the ability to assist in solving them.

Finally, your company will also benefit—because mentees tend to fit in faster, make fewer mistakes, value their jobs, and stay with companies longer.

Don’t allow new contractors to fend for themselves as they adjust to a new setting and role. Help them up their productivity, seamlessly fit in, and ultimately, succeed!