Autoethnography of Professional Developement During Onboarding in IT Sector

Abstract

Onboarding in companies is an important process in the integration of new employees, especially in the aspect of Information Technology (IT) sector. This paper uses analytic autoethnography with the aim of presenting the experience of the first author during his onboarding process in the position of Integration Specialist. Autoethnography allows researchers to combine personal reflection and theory-based analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and cognitive challenges experienced by new hires. Using paper notes, digital notes, internal communication, and mentor communications, we construct narrative episodes that trace emotional and cognitive transitions. The contribution of this paper is reflected in the fact that an authentic approach to informal learning processes and identity formation on the business
path is presented. Also, this paper indicates practical guidelines for improving the onboarding model in companies that want to develop a structured and empathetic approach
to the integration of new employees during the process.