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Tag: Minnesota Jobs
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Partners
in Skill Development?
Tuition Reimbursement is Old News
Copyright
© 2004 by Terri Robinson
"You don't
go to school once in a lifetime; you are in school all of your life.
That's why they call graduation 'commencement' - it's just the beginning."
Harvey MacKay ~~ author of "Swim With the Sharks Without
Being Eaten Alive"
In surveys from such experts as Forrester's and others on what employees
consider most important today, continuing education ranks high as
one of the benefits they are seeking. Most large companies, and
many smaller companies, have a tuition reimbursement program in
their "benefit package". Usually there are strict guidelines and
rules about how this is administered: an employee must have been
on the job a certain period of time before he/she can qualify, the
employee must be registered in a degree program, certain grade point
averages must be met, or the employee must promise to stay with
the company for a certain period of time after completing the course
- or must reimburse the company.
Offering the typical tuition reimbursement package at your company
is just the equivalent of "keeping up with the Jones'", and is usually
a defensive tool to allow the company to be competitive and attract
good applicants. You could be a true "employer of choice" and attract
the best candidates by going one step further. Don't just offer
tuition reimbursement. Go for more. Provide educational opportunities
to employees that will enhance their existing skills and give them
new skills. Help them do their jobs better. Assist them with planning
their career growth. Partner with your employees to promote their
success at their jobs.
This doesn't only benefit the employees, there's something in it
for businesses too. When the job market is tight, finding the right
person for some of your open positions may seem nearly impossible.
There may very well be someone in your organization that, with a
little time and effort, could become that right person. So how do
you do it? How do you create a Database expert? Programmer? Webmaster?
Web Designer? Easy. Have you ever heard the phrase "distance learning"?
According to the Arizona
Distance Learning Association, "In the corporate side of training,
America is currently faced with upgrading the training of 50 million
American workers. Each year corporations look to the use of technology
and distance education to provide that training and continuing education
for their workers. This saves them millions of dollars each year
using distance learning to train employees more effectively and
more efficiently than with conventional methods."
has many forms. It
could mean establishing a video and CD library. On-line courses
are proliferating and you can take advantage of them by offering
them in your workplace. This allows you, as an employer, to actively
participate with your employees in your mutual success. By scheduling
time at work to complete these courses you are giving the employees
the chance to acquire more skills, while you still maintain some
quality control over the course selection and the training process.
If you are ready to give it a try, but you are not sure where to
start, go on-line. Here are some resources for on-line technical
self-study courses: · <
Smart Planet Computing & Internet has over 650 self-study courses
in Office, Java, NetWare, Windows, CGI, Notes, Windows NT, FrontPage,
Explorer, and other technology subjects.
If a degree program is the right thing for some of your employees,
let them get their degree online at their desktop - from a prestigious
and accredited college or university. On company time? Maybe yes,
maybe no. But allowing them to use company computers at scheduled
times may afford some people opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise
have. One very prestigious on-line university located in Phoenix,
Arizona, University of Phoenix Online offers degree programs in Undergraduate
as well as Graduate studies. They have students worldwide who rave
about the excellent education they received without ever stepping
on the campus property!
Conferences and seminars often offer continuing education units,
but it can be hard to fit these into a busy schedule, and travel
adds to the time and expense. Help them to schedule in a few hours
of learning time during working hours each month to attend conferences
and seminars on-line.
And don't be fooled into believing that employees only want to learn
JavaScript or get their MBA. Getting a degree is not the only goal
of employees today. Some want to learn how to write better correspondence
or improve their communication skills. Or learn about business etiquette
in Germany, Japan, or Mexico. Managers might want to learn to improve
their Telesales Departments, or keep current on legal employment
issues like sexual harassment or discrimination. Sales professionals
can always benefit from learning "21st Century Selling", or "3 Simple
Steps to More Product Sales". These and literally hundreds of other
"Self-Study" courses are available on-line.
The choice is yours. Be just another company in the pack that is
snapping at the heels of the "star-quality job seekers". Or be a
true "employer of choice" with the best of the best wanting to work
for your company and just waiting for a position to open up.
Terri Robinson, President - Robinson & Associates, a recruiting
company that specializes in sales and marketing professionals. Terri
has been published in Arizona Women's News,Arizona Reporter Online
News, interviewed by Recruiting Trends' Newsletter for their Extreme
Recruiting column, by Smart Money Magazine, and by Sales and Marketing
Management Magazine. Surf to http://www.recruit2hire.com, call 602-233-8410,
or E-mail
Terri |
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