the role of new hire orientation programs

A vital component of a firm's human resource management is its new hire orientation (NHO) program. The authors' review of extant literature suggests that NHO programs can be organized based on a reconceptualization of human capital. Using their typology, a firm can organize the role and scope of its NHO program, assign responsibility for the program's execution, and determine the appropriate level of resources to commit to this process. Results of an application in a large technology organization suggest firm performance suffers when NHO components are not aligned strategically. Implications of the study for managers and academics in career counseling are presented.