Being Invisible While Being Visible - A Case Study of How the Perception of Virtual Onboarding Relates to Networking in a Consultancy Firm

Abstract: Purpose: Our study aims to investigate new employees’ perceptions of their virtual onboarding in a consultancy firm and how their perceptions relate to networking. We saw the need to enrich the existing theories on onboarding and networking as they were not applicable to the ever-changing environ- ment. Methodology: We conducted a qualitative single case study following an abductive and interpretative research approach. In this context, our empirical material consists of eleven semi- structured interviews. Contributions: With our study, we contribute to the literature of (virtual) onboarding by giving a deeper insight into the difficulties of building interpersonal relationships and networks with colleagues virtually. We uncovered the phenomena of perceived invisibility and confirmed invisibility. Here, we emphasize that being actually visible on a computer screen does not automatically lead to the perception of be- ing visible in the eyes of oneself and others. Additionally, we found that our interviewees lacked a sufficient cultural understanding and sense of belonging to their teams and their employer.