New hire orientation: what it is and what it means

New hire orientation (induction) is the initial and formal phase of joining a company: contract signatures, official introductions, activation of access. It is a bounded phase of onboarding, not a synonym for it. Orientation wraps up in a few days; onboarding continues for weeks or months. The distinction matters because completing orientation without attending to onboarding leads to incomplete integration.

Distinctive: initial and formal phase of joining
Essential: contract signatures
Essential: activation of access
Constant: bounded phase of onboarding, not a synonym for it

Glossary

New hire orientation

The initial, formal phase of joining a company: signatures, official introductions, activation of access. A bounded phase of onboarding, not a synonym for it.