Apathetic Training

We keep hearing about skills shortages, even as we come out of the bleakest time the IT Industry has ever had. These skills shortages are highlighted by companies that keep telling us that there are few people with the skills they need, either here or abroad.

I think that there is a reason for this: the companies squealing most are probably the ones with the least number of training programs. They are the companies that have shafted the most employees and now only ever look outside for any talent. They recruit from the very best schools, but never give a red cent in training to any of these poor people to bring them up to speed in the company's espoused business arena.

Back in the Good Olde Days, I was employed by Conoco, an Oil and Gas Company, now part of ConocoPhillips. They trained EVERYONE in the technology of the industry, they even made it fun (who could rack up the biggest bill on the final nights dinner - we did 900 pounds UK damage to the company coffers on our course), they also had training courses to improve the employee, things like presentation courses. Some of these were genuinely hard courses.

I have seen other companies that have done similar, but none in the last 10 years.

Companies need desparately to start training their employees. Damn the consequences of the employee leaving and going elsewhere, heck you'll pick up people trained at other companies expense, too!

Employees have little to keep them in the place there are today. The ever present threat of layoffs and re-orgs, outsourcing and just generally going down the toilet, means employees are on the edge of their seats just waiting to jump or get axed. It's not conducive to work. Crisis management was humbug then, and it's still crapolla today. You can't beat employees into doing better, but you can train them into better more proficient workers.

Some of us have worked very hard to stay abreast of technology in todays fast moving world, yet I still end up looking at companies using technologies that are 10 and 20 years old, that even now don't want to train people in it. I have left behind more technologies that I can shake a stick at, but I still need training in technologies on bigger or more complex packages. Have I ever got it? Not on your life! Do I want it? Absolutely. Is some of this stuff a skill in shortage? You bet!

Companies... TRAIN your people! Your PEOPLE are all that's between you and non-existence. Trust and believe in your people, build your people, and they will help build you.