I was at a women’s conference recently and networking (as you do!); and in conversation with a young lady talking about my job. I told her about my programme ‘having a positive attitude’ which targets 16-19 years olds in Further Education Colleges and those not in education employment or training (NEETs). I said basically I look to shape young people’s attitudes for the workplace; focusing on a range of issues from attitudes to other people’s property, ethics, society, and politics to challenges etc.
She said she wished someone had talked to her what to expect and what was expected of her before she started her 1st job because the initial weeks were miserable for her! She learnt the hard way and really was fortunate to have supervisors who were willing to give her enough time to settle in. She said she saw herself in others who joined the office after her as they had the same issues.
It was interesting to compare her comments to today, and the students I see. Since our conversation, I have run some taster sessions of the programme at one of my local colleges and it was obvious to me (and the teachers actually!) how little the students know and understand these issues as they prepare for apprenticeships and work placements. After all my sessions (and I run them in double digits now!), the teachers have come up to me and ask if I can deliver a session to another group of students. Of course I am willing to do this, but once they realise my services are not free, their faces drop! They have no budget! No budget to cover anything other than for ‘core’ subjects which about the skill/ability – preparing them for such apprenticeships. But what about the ‘soft’ skills, young people need as well, don’t they?
So there is a gap! A gap that career development offices don’t cover because of their scope is limited and yes, resources. But the question still remains – whose responsibility is it? And before you say parents, I would say what if the parents are not in a position to do that – for whatever reason? Majority of the young people I have seen in these colleges come from low income families, so to an extent lack social skills and values; as one teacher said “they only see things through their own eyes, forgetting there’s a world out there that could see things differently!” And really that’s what I do – I open their mindsets to a possible, different way of seeing things which they seem to appreciate.
And if your organisation operates an apprenticeship or workplacement scheme, wouldn’t you want people who have both core and soft skills? Everyone has or is facing budget cuts – Further and Higher Education are no expection, but what happens to these young people? Is it enough to give them the ‘skills/ability’ to do a job, and not the ‘softer’, social skills to compliment their ablity? Soft skills are just as important, if not more in some cases.
If you took part or read comments on my poll on LinkedIn and on my website which asked – ‘what’s most required in the workplace – skill, attitude, accountability or integrity?’; you would have seen attitude and integrity came top.
Why should I care so much and share my concerns with you? Well I think everyone should care because it affects us all – if your organisation operates an apprenticeship or work placement scheme, you should care about the quality and calibre of people coming on your scheme – it has to be a worthwhile experience for both you and the apprentice. And even if your organisation doesn’t operate a scheme, then think about it for the long term – a strong workforce translates into a stronger economy. If this strikes a cord with you, and are interested in supporting this programme at a grassroots level through perhaps your CSR policy; and/or want to share your ideas on this issue, I look forward to hearing from you.
