Staff search and onboarding: Updated guides and new tools

The Office of Human Resources is excited to announce significant updates to key online resources, all designed to enhance the hiring and onboarding experience for leaders and new staff members. These improvements reflect the University’s ongoing commitment to providing comprehensive support and streamlined processes for the campus community.

HR recently completed a comprehensive review of its Hiring Manager Guide, which is now officially rebranded as the Staff Search Guide. It continues to serve as an invaluable tool, guiding leaders through every stage of the search and selection process — from planning to the hiring decision. In this new format, it complements the new Faculty Search Guide.

“The Staff Search Guide more accurately reflects the depth and breadth of information available to hiring managers, empowering them to conduct efficient and successful staff searches,” says Director of Recruitment Cary Marcantonio. “This is a huge step forward in our recruiting efforts, and we hope it allows committees to more confidently navigate the hiring process and continue to attract top talent to Wake Forest.”

Further enhancing the guide, HR published a complementary video, “Thoughts in 30 — Running a Non-discriminatory Staff Search.” A link to this workshop is available on the Staff Search Guide. 

“The new Thoughts in 30 video provides accessible and concise guidance on conducting non-discriminatory staff searches. We strongly recommend that anyone involved in staff hiring complete this workshop every two years — or sooner if new guidelines lead us to update the content,” says Mary Lucal, Vice President and CHRO. “Leaders should feel encouraged to share the video with their teams and to reach out to HR with questions. Our recruiters are also available for in-person presentations, which is a great way to dig deeper through conversation.” 

In addition to the hiring guide, New Hires: Onboarding Guidance for Leaders is refreshed. This guidance offers essential steps for leaders to ensure a smooth transition for new employees into the Wake Forest community. To further assist, a new tool, an Onboarding Plan Template. is now available for use.

“The refreshed onboarding guidance and the new Onboarding Plan Template equip leaders with what they need to create a welcoming and productive environment from day one, fostering early success for our new colleagues,” says Director of Employment Solutions Ansley Tallant.

All WFU leaders are invited to utilize and leverage these tools to support successful recruitment and integration into the University community. These enhancements are part of HR’s continuous efforts to support the growth and development of Wake Forest’s dedicated staff.