Management Skills

CHAPTER12

Setting Up an Orientation Plan

In This Chapter

• Making a great first impression
• Organizing the orientation process
• Establishing effective training
• Orientation mistakes to avoid

I remember my first day at Merrill Lynch. When I returned from New York City after 6 months of training, my brain was full of ideas. Having passed all the tests to become a stockbroker, I arrived at the office early—6 A.M. The office manager greeted me, put his hand on my shoulder, showed me my desk with a phone and phone book on it, and said, “Here you go, Dave. Good luck.”

At home I had a pregnant wife. We lived in a small rental, and I was excited and scared. ...