Onboarding begins even before a candidate’s first interview, one HR pro says

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A worker’s first point of contact can influence their impression of the company, Lindsay Gainor, vice president of HR and talent management at ServiceMaster Brands, parent company of Merry Maids, Two Men and a Truck, and Two Men and a Junk Trunk, told HR Dive.

That’s why she recommends ensuring every point of contact is transparent and intentional.

“Ask yourself when your onboarding begins. We often think that it starts on day 1, and we think that everything prior to that is pre-boarding,” Gainor said. “Think about it from the time a recruiter picks up a phone and contacts the candidate for the first time all the way through one year and beyond.”

Gainor shared more onboarding insights with HR Dive that she’s gleaned over more than a decade in the people space.