Induction definition

Induction is the process of introducing a new employee to the company culture and processes with the aim of bringing them up to speed as quickly as possible as well as making them feel socially comfortable and aware of their professional responsibilities. Companies will typically have an induction programme in place and follow the same processes for all new hires, although the induction process is may vary depending on the industry, the job role and the seniority of the new hire.

Induction is technically synonymous to onboarding, although onboarding is typically the term used when describing a more complex process with a greater emphasis on the social side. Inductions are also likely to be time-limited, such as a week or two, whereas onboarding is commonly seen as a long-term, logical process to integrate a new hire with an organisation’s values.