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Pete Cohen at adult learning group Foundation Degrees answers questions on how to improve staff retention and skill levels.
Q: What are the reasons normally behind lack of job satisfaction? A: Some of the major reasons behind lack of job satisfaction is doing a job that you don't really want to do. Most of us in life end up doing jobs that we think we should do often based on what our parents and peers would want us to do. Q: Are flighty staff increasing training costs for businesses? A: It is less likely that staff will be "flighty" if they feel valued and appreciated by their employers. Make sure that your employees realise that you believe staff are your most valuable asset, be this through financial or personal rewards. Q: Do many/how many people want to leave work to start their own businesses? A: Lots of people want to leave their jobs and do their own thing and be their own bosses. It is essential that in order to something like this that you are as prepared as you possibly can be and researched your chosen industry. There is lots of help out there from government initiatives to charities and Banks that offer support programmes for entrepreneurs. Q: As an employer of 10 staff what's your advice on keeping them all motivated and happy A: There is nothing better than making your staff feel valued and supported. Why not consider encouraging your staff to develop new skills? Q: I would love to go back to studying but I am embarrassed about my age isn't everyone going to be 18? A: You would be amazed of the amount of people from all ages going back into learning. Take that leap of faith and I'm sure you will never look back. As you broaden your horizons and improve the quality of your working life. Q: What changes have you made to your career and would you consider them successful A: I have made loads of changes in my career from working in a supermarket to running my own health club. But the most successful thing I have done is find something that I actually enjoy doing. The best bit of advice that I could give you is to judge your success in what you do by how much fun you are having while you do it. Q: I'm in my forties and been on the same career path - accounting -since I left university. Is it too late to retrain and what could a middle-aged bloke with accounting skills actually do? A: Age does not have to be a barrier. Employers will be less concerned about age if you have an obvious passion and a desire to learn about the chosen industry. Q: I love the work I do but not the company I work for, is that a sign that i should move on? A: If, what you don't like about the company is something that you feel you cannot change then perhaps you should consider finding another company that you like or learning the skills to start on your own. Q: How likely are employers to sponsor to skills update in order to further your position in the company? A: They are more likely to get involved if they can see a perceived benefit. At the end of the day if they can see that by you doing this course it will benefit the company in the long term and keep the company ahead in an increasingly competitive environment why would they not? They should also appreciate the fact that your personal self worth and satisfaction will increase and you will be able to give more to the company too.
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