It doesn’t matter what industry you operate within; the way in which people work and learn has changed irrevocably in the past few years. With a whole generation who have grown up with instant access to the internet, smartphones, and many other technologies, the expectations of today’s workers are a world away from what they used to be.
If you are a business that is keen to embrace a younger workforce, then you may have concerns about how you are going to train them. Don’t be. Discover 5 tried and tested strategies for training younger people in the workplace, with top tips that can be easily tailored to your business.
1) Micro-learning
One of the most common concerns that businesses have about employing the younger generation is their short attention spans. While it is not true that all young people struggle with concentration, this demographic does favour more bite-sized learning strategies.
Therefore, when training younger members of staff, it can be a good idea to embrace micro-learning which involves breaking content down into smaller modules. Some of the most popular examples of micro-learning include infographics, video content, and animations.
2) Spaced learning
Spaced learning is a relatively new training technique that involves breaking down extended training programs into several shorter sessions rather than one long one. These shorter sessions are then reintroduced several times over a set period of time, helping to maximise information recall and increase the long-term retention of knowledge.
Typically, spaced learning is broken down into three sessions, but this can vary depending on the course material. The first session is known as the “present” phase and usually involves a video lecture. The second is called the “recall” phase, where assignments are given out, and the third is the “understanding” phase, which is where your team is asked to apply their new knowledge to a problem or task.
3) E-learning
Many young people have grown up with e-learning, which makes it a highly effective technique for training in the workplace. Although there has been much debate surrounding e-learning vs. face-to-face learning, there is no denying the fact that today’s workers expect to be trained digitally.
There are many benefits to e-learning for young people, such as the opportunity to learn at their own pace and the ability to train remotely. If you have always favoured face-to-face training, then you may want to start offering a combination of these types of programs as well as some which can be carried out online.
4) Interactive content
It can be a lot more challenging to keep young people engaged in training sessions than their older counterparts, so you need to work just that little bit harder when it comes to creating content.
One of the most effective forms of content for younger people is interactive content. As the name suggests, this type of content is designed to actively interact with trainees and can be highly effective at keeping them interested in the subject matter.
Video content is currently the most favoured form of interactive content, with 75% of employees preferring to watch a training video rather than read a training manual. This type of content is also quicker and easier to consume, which can help to reduce your training times and make them more effective.
5) Collaborative learning
Collaborative learning leans on the idea that people learn better when they are challenged and supported by their peers. Providing a great way to get everyone involved in training new employees, this technique can enhance the overall training experience for young people and help to integrate them into your company.
Countless studies have shown that people learn better as a group than they do as individuals, as they can learn from other people’s ideas and share their own thoughts.
Collaborative learning or training can also help to drive employee engagement, foster a healthy company culture, and create a happy and healthy working environment.
Final thoughts
There is no denying that training young people can sometimes be a challenge. However, the rewards are more than worth the effort, with these new workers being full of fresh ideas and enthusiasm, not to mention unrivalled technical know-how.
Although you may not have the resources to try all of the above techniques, even embracing one can help you make the most out of today’s young workforce.