Ep. 14

Onboarding New Hires Effectively w/ David Blake
In episode 14 we talk with David Blake about how small business HR teams can get onboarding right.

David Blake
Human Resources Manager
K2 Electric

From the first interview to their first day of work, a new employee’s initial impression of your company makes or breaks their experience—and ultimately, whether they want to stay.
We sat down with David Blake, Human Resources Manager at K2 Electric, to learn how small business HR teams can onboard new hires more effectively to deliver a better employee experience that supports engagement and retention.
David shared with us his 4-step framework for effective onboarding:
Step 1: Setting new hires up for success.
Step 2: Making a great first impression.
Step 3: Establishing and communicating a training plan.
Step 4: Giving feedback.
We also talked about:
- How onboarding sets the tone for new hires
- Why prioritizing onboarding—even when you’re on a small HR team—is critical for business success
- How onboarding makes a direct impact on productivity and retention
- How to work together with your hiring manager to ensure a seamless onboarding experience
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I hire a lot of brand-new electricians, and I gain a lot of satisfaction—seeing them progress, gain new skills, and move into leadership positions—knowing I was able to help them in some way.”
David Blake
It all comes down to making a great first impression on your new hire—from the first interview to their first day, and beyond. You have to deliver on what you outlined and meet their expectations.”
David Blake
Recruiting is one of my top priorities: I have to hire the right employees, and I need to make sure they’re getting paid. It helps to have a great team. I work together with my hiring managers and supervisors to make sure we hire the right people.”
David Blake
HR is the glue that keeps everything together. I look to managers to tell me what they need—and then I execute their plan and keep us on track.”
David Blake
Safety—and safety training—is critical for our company. Our goal is to make sure every employee goes home to their family at the end of every day.”
David Blake
In my experience, if you have an effective onboarding process, employees tend to stay longer, people are more engaged, more productive, and they feel like they belong.”
David Blake
In business, it comes down to relationships. Take care of your employees, your customers, and give back to your community.”
David Blake