opportunity : Diversity Positive recruitment :
Orientation of new staff

Tips and Tools

Example position description – Scientist Web sites recommended for CGIAR recruitment Internet research tools Print media position announcement – Scientist Web site position announcement – Scientist Sample candidate assessment form Briefing selection committees Practical assessment tasks Checking references Diversity-positive salary setting

Key messages from this section

When planning new staff orientation, it is important to:

• apply the elements of good practice orientation for all Center appointees.
• apply the elements of good practice orientation for expatriates (including spouse and family) to the duty station.

1 This section focuses on orientation of new staff members to the Center and their duty station. This is in addition to their induction to the Center’s administrative processes.

Orientation to the Center
2 The principal elements of orientation to the Center are set in the list of good practices in the box below. Individual Centers may have other items additional to these practices.

Good practice
Principal elements of orientation
• Explain the Center’s mission and vision, main strategic objectives, program structure and geographic spread.
• Explain the Center’s values and how they influence the way the Center goes about its business, both external and internal, and its commitment to diversity.
• Explain key personnel policies, especially those that are values-driven such as the code of conduct, harassment and discrimination, integrity issues such as acceptance of gifts.
• Establish a performance contract with each appointee, so that she/he understands from the outset (a) what her/his main work objectives are for the first year, and (b) how her/his performance will be judged.
• Establish a “buddy” system to facilitate learning about the Center.

Orientation of expatriates to the duty station
3 The principal elements of orientation of expatriates to the duty station are set out below. Note that these do not apply just to the appointee but also to her/his spouse and family. Individual Centers may have other items additional to these practices.

Good practice
(for appointee and spouse/partner and rest of family)
• Provide explanation of culture/s of country of duty station and implications for everyday life.
• Provide general information about the city and the region.
• Provide information about Center-delivered support services, e.g. family services center, spouse support arrangements, contact people in Center administration for assistance on specific issues, colleague-advisor to accompany them during settling-in period.
• Provide relevant language training.

© CGIAR Gender & Diversity Program 2006