At TempStaff, we know that investing in employee development is essential for business success. By helping employees advance in their careers, you aren’t just demonstrating your support for their growth. Offering chances to develop professionally boosts morale. Plus, it can bolster productivity and close skill gaps.
Ideally, companies should use several techniques to spur growth in their workforce. Here are some straightforward ways to help employees advance in their careers.
Formal Training
Formal training is the most clear-cut way to help employees hone their capabilities and acquire new knowledge. Plus, it has the added benefit of being under the company’s purview. Employers can develop training programs that are functionally win-win, ensuring employees gain skills the company requires to meet its short and long-term goals.
In many cases, e-learning platforms are the simplest solutions to implement. Along with housing on-demand training modules, the courses are usually accessible from any device with an internet connection. Plus, it’s easier to coordinate and track than in-person training.
Education Incentives
Education incentives like tuition reimbursement or student loan assistance encourage employees to take ownership of their development while keeping their costs down. Often, it can often make targeted or more advanced learning more accessible, particularly if an employee needs a niche skill that internal training options can’t reasonably support.
Student loan assistance can also attract candidates with skills a company may require. It’s a highly coveted benefit, making it far easier to position an organization as an employer of choice.
Constructive Feedback
Constructive feedback provides employees with valuable insights that can help them improve professionally. Ideally, managers should adopt a coaching mindset, ensuring that any criticism is coupled with guidance and support. By using that strategy, all feedback turns into learning opportunities. Plus, managers are functionally taking an active role in the process, demonstrating that they want to help the employee flourish in their careers, which boosts morale.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is a process where an employee interested in a specific role or skill area directly observes a worker with that job or capability. It’s a less structured learning opportunity, as the employee that’s shadowing can ask questions, see techniques firsthand, and find out about what it’s like to be in a position during a typical day.
With job shadowing programs, the worker that’s being shadowed can also experience growth. It’s a chance to hone coaching and leadership skills, both of which provide long-term value.
Mentorship Programs
Mentorship programs pair lesser experienced workers with skilled professionals, giving the worker a source of guidance and insights from a fellow employee. Senior staff members can pass down their expertise to the next generation, ensuring that their knowledge isn’t lost over time. Plus, junior employees may have insights they can also share, such as fresh perspectives or information about emerging technologies.
As another benefit, the mentor also gets to improve their coaching and leadership capabilities. For those preparing to transition into management, this experience provides exceptional value, ensuring they’re ready for the next role up the ladder.
Ultimately, helping employees advance their careers is beneficial, and it doesn’t have to be tricky. If you’d like to learn more about what your company can do or are seeking top talent for your vacant positions, TempStaff can help. Contact us today.
