Do you remember the last time you started a new job? I do. I was instantly transported back to the first day of middle school, the beginning of the most awkward years of my life. The years where every student wishes they had someone to show them the ropes on how to use lockers, navigate hallways, and where to sit for lunch. And there I was, feeling so similar at this new job, left to fend for myself.

This is the story for so many new hires. They’re interviewed and brought on board, then left to find their own way. Left to figure out how to access their email, find the internet password, or search for a conference room for that first meeting.

Joining the workforce as a recent graduate has to be one of the most fear-ridden experiences in young adulthood. And the onboarding process shouldn’t remind your new hires of their preteen years. As employers, it’s our job to ease that transition and make those first weeks as seamless as possible. Not only that, but first impressions are everything, and getting a new associate up to speed on their position and company culture can be the difference between a six-month job and a lifelong career.

Here at Reynolds, we are dedicated to helping associates grow throughout their careers, including in those crucial first weeks. Our Internal Training Department does an excellent job helping newly-hired associates acclimate to corporate life, offering jumpstart courses intended to cover essential on-the-job information, on things like email etiquette, communication skills, Excel basics, setting up a 401k, and more. Because those are the big questions when we start a new job, especially when we start our first job.

Not only that, but we take it one step further. Our hiring managers put an emphasis on mentorship and ensuring that associates have the skills they need in order to be successful in their roles. All of our managers take the time to sit one-on-one and check-in during those first months to make sure associates feel comfortable in their new roles.

For our tenured associates, our training department regularly offers workshops and one-off courses, surrounding topics such as people skills, management training, leadership best practices, and more. Because we know you have the skills, but we work to ensure you have the professional development opportunities you deserve.

We believe our people are the key to success, and fostering an environment that allows associates to grow professionally through engaging work is only a piece of that. Check out Reynolds’ Careers page for a chance to learn more about the training we offer our newly-hired associates.