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5 TIPS TO MAKE NEW
5 Tips to Make New Hires a Long-lasting Success
Bringing a new employee into the mix is process commonly known as onboarding. The idea behind onboarding is to make the transition from new hire to team member as efficient and pain-free as possible. However, polling shows that some 31% of entry-level and intermediate level hires leave their new posts within just six months of starting. The question is: why?
The hiring and training process is time-intensive and doesn’t come cheap. This means that making a good match for the long haul requires more than just assessments of skill and personality. To ensure a talented new hire sticks around and is truly positioned for success, the onboarding process must be executed with the same care applied during hiring. For a few ideas on how to make the most of the onboarding process, consider the tenets below as you guide your new hire toward long-lasting success within your company.
1. Be honest about the scope of the role
Let’s say you’re looking to add a new buyers agent or loan processor to your team. You write up the position’s responsibilities, but neglect to mention that you want the new hire to handle a host of administrative tasks, as well. Maybe it doesn’t seem important enough to outline in detail, as it’s the sort of thing the rest of your does. Miscommunications like these are a leading reason why new hires leave their roles. If there isn’t clarity and transparency about a position’s true responsibilities, then new hires may become quickly disillusioned and seek out greener pastures.

2. Build in some perks
While stocking the breakroom with bagels every Friday may seem like a small gesture, it’s often those little morale-boosting moves that build loyalty and comradery among the team. Bike-to-work incentives, subsidized gym memberships, and benefits that match the needs of your employees—all are ways to demonstrate appreciation and investment in your team. Likewise, the right candidate will return the favor and invest his or her energies into their new role.

3. Get a sense of big-picture career plans
Another reason new hires move on may have nothing to do with you or your office. In fact, many hires in entry-level or even intermediate roles have doubts about their long-term vision. That’s why it’s important to be upfront from the beginning regarding a candidate’s five-year plan and ultimate dream job. Maintain realistic expectations when asking these questions, but use it as an opportunity to gage a candidate’s seriousness about the real estate or mortgage industry. Why this line of work over another? Emphasizing industry longevity and career growth during the interview process can save you drama down the road.

4. Keep the lines of communication open
Take a proactive approach in communicating with your new hire. Take time to check in regularly during the first six months of his or her addition. If you can, make time to train new hires yourself—if only for a part of the onboarding process. You’ll forge a deeper professional bond and create an avenue for further questions. All in all, make it clear that you’re personally invested in their presence and talents, and that you care what they have to say. That way, if any issues or doubts arise, you can stay on top of it and work out a solution, rather than lose a new employee.

5. Give new hires meaningful work to do
It’s natural to keep the kid-gloves on with new hires, but don’t let that stop you from giving them a chance to shine. New team members will feel empowered and motivated if given meaningful projects to focus on. Don’t relegate their daily duties to busy work as they build experience. Instead, task new teammates with something challenging, or that draws on a specific skill you hired them for. You’ll instill confidence, demonstrate your commitment to their growth, and with any luck—keep them around for the long haul.
MIMI PHETSAMONE VONGPHAKDY

MIMI PHETSAMONE VONGPHAKDY

Broker Mimi Vongphakdy of RE/MAX ALLIANCE in Quebec, represents Montreal and surrounding areas.
Real Estate Broker Mimi Vongphakdy was inspired to enter the field of real estate as a young woman when she watched her parents purchase their first home in Quebec. “I’ve always loved watching home improvement shows and I’m so passionate about home staging’s. That’s when I discovered my interests for real estate.” Before joining the real estate business, Mimi was working as a senior customer service representative for a reputable corporation for over a decade. “It was a very stable job, well paid with great benefits.

I always loved working with people and sales had always been my strength. But then I was getting too comfortable with the job routine and I needed new challenges.” As immigrants from Laos, Mimi and her family had been renting an apartment until a member of their community helped them navigate the process to buy their own home. Mimi says she remembers the look on her parent’s faces when they were given the keys, and being in the position to help other people have that experience continues to motivate her to this day. “I always wanted to be my own boss, have control over my income and have a flexible schedule that will allow me to have a great balance between ‘work’ and ‘personal life’” Mimi says.
Working out of the RE/MAX ALLIANCE office in Quebec, Mimi represents Montreal and surrounding areas. She doesn’t restrict herself to a specific region but rather goes where she needs to be to serve her clientele. She also doesn’t restrict herself to English; she is fluent in French, Laotian, and Thai, with a bit of Cambodian. For Mimi, meeting her clients where they are is what matters, because

“I am delighted and honoured to be featured in Top Agent Magazine. It’s been a pleasure working with the TAM team, who have been quick and efficient. As a realtor, with over 10 years experience, being on the cover of TAM provides amazing exposure to reach new audiences. At the same time, I can also leverage this article for my listing presentations and marketing campaigns. Thank you TAM, for putting my beautiful city, Montreal, on the map, in the global real estate community!
real estate “is not just about bricks and walls, it’s about people.”
Whether representing buyer or seller, Mimi is there from start to finish, listening to her clients and keeping their needs in mind. When working with buyers, she is prepared to guide them from pre-approval through to that day she hands them the keys to their new home. When taking on a listing for a seller, Mimi hires a professional photographer, creates flyers, develops a social media campaign, helps negotiate the best deal possible, and works to make sure the transaction goes smoothly.
Mimi reports her team received RE/MAX’s Diamond Award (over $1 million in commissions), and her personal goal is to eventually

hit that level with a team of her own. Working toward that goal, she’s in the process of launching a new strategy to improve her marketing and outreach that involves rebranding her website, adding drone video footage to promotional materials, and increasing exposure on social media.
Currently closing 20-25 transactions a year, Mimi says her annual sales volume has increased steadily year after year, and though she earns new clients through advertising and prospecting, at least half of her business comes from repeat customers and referrals. Mimi says not only has she never received a negative comment from a client, the feedback she receives consistently mentions her dedication of time and energy, her knowledge, and her experience. Mimi adds, “I know I serve my community well. People can have confidence when they work with me.” She is as excited for the 400th transaction as she was for the first, and she treats every client with the same level of care and concern.
Mimi shows her dedication to her community in many ways. She supports her children’s

school as a member of the board. She gives her time and resources to organizations devoted to finding cures for childhood illnesses and breast cancer research, including selling ENFANT SOLEIL raffle tickets for a brand-new, fully-furnished home. And remembering her parents’ early experience with their first home purchase, Mimi hosts an information booth at local community festivals to provide free real estate advice in a comfortable, non-threatening environment.
Outside of work and giving back, Mimi enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, and painting. “It relaxes me; to decompress, I just take out some canvas.”