A few years ago I was invited by EEDA to be part of a group examining what employers are looking for in staff. It became clear that for most companies, the real challenge is in finding staff with the right attitude. This was articulated very well by the CEO who pointed out that it was far easier to train people to do a particular job – but without the right attitude, none of that would do his company any good. What he was talking about was the fundamental core of employee engagement in any organisation.
This month’s HR Magazine features an article by David Fairhurst in which he describes his early experience of work experience in his grandfather’s shop. His job gave him, not only an understanding of the retail world, but also a real understanding of the disciplines and challenges involved in running a business. As a result of his experience, he’s a strong advocate for work experience.
One of the other aspects of the skills vs mindset debate is the question of impact. Attitudes are infectious. The nightmare of every employee engagement officer is the water cooler toxic: The person with a negative attitude who is focused on converting others to their point of view, using their disaffection to manipulate others.
Positive attitudes, on the other hand, are energising and help build employee engagement. So can work experience improve the attitude of employees? It certainly gives young people a taste of the realities of the world of work. But if the placement is in a company where employees aren’t valued, or where they are discounted because they’re not a permanent part of the team – there is a chance that the work experience will have the opposite to the desired effect.
Work experience can be hugely valuable to the young person involved, and to any of their future employers. However, it’s critical to make sure that organisations offering work experience placements are serious about helping to provide a realistic, but positive view of the world of work.
Photo credit: libookperson
Article by Vandy Massey
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