The importance of training new employees

20 Feb The importance of training new employees

In 2020, there is still a reluctance to hire fresh applicants with very little experience (for obvious reasons). This tired attitude is not paying off because not enough companies are seeing the value in training employees who don’t bring years of experience to their role.

Clean slate

An employee with no experience in the field won’t bring any bad habits or preconceived ideas with them.

More often than not, these employees are eager to learn and will gobble up every bit of advice you give them.

At the beginning of this week, Blended welcomed our newest member of the team, Adam. Even though he had no experience in recruitment, his passion and enthusiasm made him an ideal choice for the role.

Four days in, Adam has proved his worth and shown he belongs in the Blended family because he was given such an opportunity. Other companies are missing out on similar talent because they take a skin-deep approach to recruitment.

A reluctance to train new employees

In some sectors, there is still a pervasive attitude that the best way to train someone is with a baptism of fire. Throw them in the deep end and let them figure it out, or so it’s meant to work.

It may sound very grown-up not to help out someone new but it’s ultimately unproductive.

Taking the opposite approach doesn’t have to mean you hold someone’s hand, but being consultative and instructive will pay dividends.

Teaching your best habits, hints and helpful words of advice will ensure your new hire doesn’t stray down the wrong path. Far from mollycoddling them, this kind of coaching will make sure they start out efficient, switched on and hungry to achieve more.

That kind of result can’t be achieved by giving them next to no guidance.

Building loyalty

Employees will feel loyal to a company when they feel appreciated and respected. The best time to show appreciation and respect is at the beginning of a professional relationship.

If you show someone you believe in their ability to go far, they’ll mirror that belief through their behaviour.

You’ll have another loyal, devoted employee right from the beginning, a more productive person who takes initiative thanks to your guidance and will learn from your behaviour as a model for success.

The teaching process is a rewarding one when you put time and effort into training someone who then becomes a great asset to your company. This ensures they’ll want to come into work every day instead of looking for the first opportunity to run out the door.

Loyalty can only be achieved by demonstrating you value the contribution all workers make, regardless of whether they started ten days or ten years ago.

You don’t necessarily need a protégé, but demonstrating you’re willing to guide your new talent along every step of the way will build an invaluable connection.