Keeping the new person engaged and learning is very important, yes. But, giving them busy work just for something to do isn't a good idea. Everyone has their own interests, and plenty of builders (*raises a hand*) are very happy not to touch a mining laser and just mine with market orders. If they feel they have to keep doing something they don't like for the promise of doing something they might like later (they can't be sure, because they haven't gotten to do it yet), it ruins their interest in doing anything at all with the corp, and you'll probably lose them (with or without shenanigans).
When I recruited for Re-Aw, I had volunteer "Honorable Newbie Herders" ready to be mentors for one (or more) of the different things the corp does. We knew who to pair them with once we learned what they were interested in. Ammo is cheap enough that baby industrialists can get their feet wet without perfect skills - and not be missed if they disappear with a few EMP S BPCs. I always felt the hardest part was giving them roles - after a trial period and discussion between the CEO, directors, and mentor, of course - but that's just typical EVE p-p-paranoia.
I've really only found two types of starting industrialists: the ones with initiative, like Desi said, who are pure gold and are reading everything they can about it on wikis and forums (and if they're new players, trying to learn everything about the game). If they see someone say they need help with something, they're offering in a heartbeat - even if it's to bring an atron to haul a freighter's worth of minerals; they're asking for more ways to help; and they keep themselves engaged with the corp and learn more while doing it. And then there are the ones who think their wallets will fill up without having to do a thing because industrial corp means magically spacerich to them; they usually won't make it to the end of an interview, though.