Help Wanted Signs and Learning Professionals: We are now 2,950 miles into our Trip Across America. One of the visuals that one notices in almost every city, town and village along the way are signs and incentives for “Help Wanted”. Restaurants and stores are offering higher starting wages and reducing the hours and scope of services. Here are some reflections on what Learning and Talent Professionals should advocate and implement:
Offer Training and Skill Development Overtly: While many signs indicated higher wages, few focused on the offer to train and build the skills of new employees. Be specific and use examples.
Expand the Audience of Potential Hires: Few of the signs targeted expanded pools of potential employees. Pitch to retirees, with flexibility of hours. List the types of candidates that would be perfect for the jobs.
Show Job Role Ladders: What is the potential sequence of job roles that a new hire can authentically expand towards over 2 years.
Create a Video on the Learning and Development Offered: Build a few minute media clip on how new hires will learn and develop. What are the learning approaches.
Divert from Resumes to Potentials: Many prospects feel that they don’t have the credentials to even apply for certain roles. Perhaps a college degree or certification is not really required. Where there is flexibility - focus on the applicant’s potentials as much as their backgrounds or certifications.
Open Houses to Feel the Work Culture: Invite folks for a one hour open house to see how the culture operates and to feel the sense of community in the workplace. Let them ask riskier questions to current staff about how it feels to work there.
Clearly, we are experiencing major shifts in the job market and applicant pool. Learning is a super motivator to keep current staff and to attract the next generation of employees. Step up and Be Proud.
COVID Testing - Keeping Safe Across 2,900 Miles:
I tested for COVID yesterday, using a home test. Had no symptoms and am “fully vaccinated and boosted” - but after 10 states and many interactions with people across the country, thought it would be wise to do a COVID Test. It came out negative.
It has been quite interesting to see how COVID prevention approaches are different along the way:
Most people are not wearing masks. Exceptions are employees at Casinos, staff and visitors at National Park locations and specific individuals.
In many areas, you would not know that we have had a 2 year Pandemic.
The economic impacts of COVID are felt in closures of businesses and shifts in tourism, but the conversation is pushing quickly beyond.
Learning & Business colleagues are calibrating how to support return to the workplace, hybrid work models and “great departures”.
The ambiguity about COVID prevention approaches has been confusing as one moves from state to state.
Soap with a Hole: Encountered an amazing invention for hotel guests. Soap with a Hole:
Think of how many times you have left a used once soap bar in a hotel room. And, the center of the soap is fully intact after a few showers. In Santa Fe, the hotel supplied a small bar of “Soap with a Hole”. Less waste and evoker of big smiles.
New Mexico Experiences:
A day driving across New Mexico is filled with great sites, conversations and ahas!
BBQ in a Hardware Store in Tucumcari, New Mexico: Stopped for lunch at a small store on the way towards Santa Fe. They had hardware supplies and in the back a wonderful BBQ restaurant. The owner had wonderful stories about the town and the culture of BBQ.
Native American Jewelry and Marketplace: One of my favorite marketplaces is the Santa Fe Square, where Native Americans sell the jewelry that they have crafted. I have visited this Square several times in the last 50 years - and am always intrigued!
Tesla Reactions and Chargers: It has been amazing to see how people’s reactions to the Masie Tesla has changed. With gasoline prices on the rise, folks that we meet are now fascinated and even jealous of not having to pay gas pump prices. And, there are more and more Teslas on the road. We have been able to easily charge the car over the past 9 days. When we stopped at the Albuquerque Tesla Charging station, right off Route 40, all the slots were filled with a few cars waiting for a space. About 30 minutes later - we were charging up. Watch for significant expansions of EV charging - as GM and other car brands go electric.
Off to Winslow, Flagstaff and Scottsdale today! Will give briefings and keynotes on Monday and Tuesday at the i4cp Conference for HR and Talent Leaders.
As always, send your comments or hello's to me at emasie@masie.com
Yours in Learning,
Elliott