Youngsters want jobs; jobs require experience

Andre C. McKenzie, Contributor

It is disheartening, as a youngster, when you browse through a list of available, jobs, and a key criterion is 'at least three to five years' experience'. Fresh out of college, where are, you supposed to get three to five years' experience in the working world? Sure, a summer internship is good, but do employers really value summer jobs as the experience they are looking for?

It is usually proven veterans who get the jobs rather than zealous youngsters, but are employers making the right choice? Sure, a proven veteran might be able to do the work at a higher standard than the zealous youngster, but the zealous youngster is eager to impress and make a name. With adequate training and mentoring the youngester will be at the same level, if not better, than the proven veteran. Organisations taking on someone with no experience can teach these persons the ways they like to do things, as they are more flexible, whereas the veterans already have a fixed way of doing things which may be in contradiction to established practices at the organisation. However, there are also some pitfalls to hiring youngsters, as some professions are more demanding of experience than others. For example, on one hand, accounting is a routine job, and once you know how to do it you just do it. In that field, younger people can be trained to be on par in a relatively short space of time (you can finish ACCA training within three to four years). On the other hand, in law and other professions where skills come from dynamic experience, practice, which rely on social interaction, and not just knowing a formula, there is a clear view that it is better to hire the person with experience. Notwithstanding, it is important to keep in mind, a fresh college graduate will command a lower salary than the proven veteran and will be able to work at the company for a longer period.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE WORLD

Some might say that the time it will take to train a youngster to reach the required standard is too costly to the company when they could have a proven veteran come in and do what is required right away. But isn't that what is wrong with the world? Instant, short-term success is preferred over long-term planning that will lead to even greater returns. This is somewhat disheartening because if only employers would take the time to weigh all the options, they would see that in a lot of cases it would be better to hire a younger person even though with less experience. Maybe it is the fear that once youngsters, gain enough experience within organisation, they will look for new pastures with better rewards. Or maybe it is the fact that they're not proven. Employers don't know if they will actually have the competence to be trained to the level desired, whereas if they hire the experienced person they know exactly what they are getting.

With everything you do in life, there is an element of risk so that should not deter employers from hiring youngsters. A non-competition agreement may limit the effects of losing a youngster in whom time and money were invested in. However, if you treat the young employee right there is a great chance the person will remain within the company, and you will continue to reap the rewards of the investment made.

Despite the dark, gloomy outlook, there is a ray of sunshine for the youngsters. The National Youth Service (NYS) and Ministry of Youth and Culture's latest initiative, the Graduate Work Experience Programme, is expected to be fully rolled out sometime next year should provide graduates with experience that the working world demands. As a beneficiary of the NYS programme while in high school, I am particularly optimistic about this latest venture. However, this will only be able to succeed with the help of the private sector so one can only hope that it the value of investing in the youth of Jamaica.

Andre C. McKenzie is a law student. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com