Are You Willing To Learn?

Recently I read an article about companies and head hunters being all upset and beside themselves because there was an overflowing amount of people looking for work, but 'no one qualified to do the job.' I thought, really, what ever happened to training, what ever happened to 'lets give 'em a shot', what happened to the days when employers would ask the question: Are you willing to learn?

I graduated in 1987, in 1988 I was working for Rite Aid Pharmacy as a cashier and wanted to make more money because I was getting my own apartment. I asked the pharmacist if I could work in the pharmacy as his technician. "Sure," he said. What are the qualifications? "Nothing, as long as your willing to learn." I was hired, I was trained, and I learned. I worked in that profession for three years.

In 1992 we moved to California and it was right in the middle of the recession. I needed a job and could not find one as hard as I tried for what I was qualified for. I saw an ad for 'bookkeeper'. Well, I took some bookkeeping classes in high school and I worked in a law office as a bike messenger through high school, helping out as well in their collections department filing, and mailing, clerical stuff. So, I thought, I can apply to this. They asked me if I had ever been a bookkeeper. I said no, but I had some basic skills, and "I was willing to learn." I was hired, and I was trained and I learned. I worked there for one year.

In 1994 we moved to PA and I once again needed a job. I saw an ad, 'CNA needed, will train'. I applied, I was hired, I was trained, I learned. I worked in that profession for three years.

Every job I have ever had has been one where my skills were limited and I was trained. Why the shift? Why do people already have to have 3 to 5 or 5 to 10 years experience? Why don't employers take the time to train. I understand some of the high-tech positions or engineering positions require that the person have knowledge of the subject, but what about the college grad that has the knowledge but not the experience? They are being told the same story. It just seems insane to me that there are millions of people out of work and companies are complaining about experience, or skills. People want to work, they are willing to learn, train them!

What Is The American Dream?

What is the American Dream?

While driving in the car one day there came on the radio someone talking about achieving the “American Dream”. My daughter then asked the question, “Mom, what is the American Dream?” Her brother promptly answered, “It’s about making lots of money.” Ugh, I thought to myself. Is this really what the American Dream has become in the eyes of American’s? Is this what other countries see as the ‘American Dream’? 

America was founded on the ideas of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our forefathers dreamt of a country where one could be free to live life however one saw fit. Government was established for only one reason and that was to protect those rights, “…that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,..(Declaration of Independence).’ The American Dream is the pursuit of happiness. The ability to say what you want, do what you like and be free from any tyranny. 

These aren’t just rights; these are our ideas, beliefs and dreams. In Bloomberg Business week there was an article about Osama Bin Laden and they mentioned a poll taken among Arabs on how they felt about American’s. Well you can guess that how they felt about us was not high but how they felt about the country was. It was rated the highest place to find equal rights, rights to education, and opportunity. They understand the American Dream! The right to be free! 

So, I promptly told my son that he was wrong about the American Dream being about making lots of money. They weren’t very happy about the history lesson but hopefully they remembered what I said. The American Dream is your dream. We live in a country where you can pursue your dreams and make them a reality. A ‘c’ student can become President, a high school drop-out can become a multi-millionare, an inner-city youth can become a superstar. If you want to be a Chef, you can be a Chef. If you want to live on the beach, you can live on the beach. For some people the American Dream may be to make lots of money, but it’s not THE dream. Whatever your dream is, that is the American Dream.

Bad Manager!

Recently I was having a discussion with a friend about solving a General Manager problem. We spend a lot of money on hiring and training personal. We want to retain them, hopefully make them career employees. Well, what happens when your General Manager is the cancer in your business?

If your a business owner and you find that your staff is unhappy, unmotivated, uncommitted and leaving as fast as your hiring, you may want to look at your management team. Your management team is there to provide guidance, training, leadership,  and personal growth opportunities to your staff. Are they fulfilling those roles? Or are they lazy, not providing adequate training, not supplying leadership and organization to your team? We all know the saying, and I hate to say it, but..."shit rolls downstream." Well, its true, leadership starts at the top, motivation comes from leadership, organization comes from good management.

So, what to do if your GM is causing your losses? Well, first are they workable? Perhaps they just don't know what good management is. Send them to a leadership course, not all managers are good leaders. Will some training work? Is the manager worth saving? If they aren't willing to go, then perhaps they are not committed to their role.

Take a poll of your employees. What are they saying about the manager? What area's need to change, what isn't the manager providing that they need? Maybe training isn't required, its just some issues that the manager has lost sight of, or has forgotten is a part of his/her role.

Finally, perhaps its just time to let that GM go, or move to a different position that does not require them to supervise others. If the manager cannot fulfills his or her role and is not willing to learn or change, then it is time to cut your losses and move on. This can be difficult at times when you are close to your manager or have been working with them for a long time. Relationships change however, and saving your company, and money is more important. Usually when this happens it is in the best interest for the manager to leave anyway. They have lost their vision and desire for the company but have grown comfortable. Time for them to move on and rekindle their passion for their work.

Internships for the Non-Traditional Student

An internship is learning skills while ‘working ‘on the job. Internships are beneficial to college students because it provides job related experience they can show to a prospective employer. But, what about the 30-something, non-traditional, student?

Several years ago I went back to school part-time to get a degree that would put me on a different career path. I finished BA in History and was ready to embark on a new career as an Historian, researcher, educator, museum director. I was willing and expecting to start in an entry level position, no problem. Well, there was a problem, I needed experience. Everyone wanted 1 to 2 years experience, 5 to 10 years experience. Ok, I thought, how do I get that experience without getting the job? Checking around and talking with as many people as I could about the industry, I found out that an internship was the way to go, and that I should also continue on with a master’s degree.

I quickly enrolled in a master’s program and started looking for internships . I found many wonderful internships at museums across America. How wonderful to spend three months working with the Smithsonian in Washington, DC; what an experience to spend the summer at The Hermitage working with the Curator as his/her assistant! Well, that was not going to happen. How could I possibly leave my family for three months and give up income for three months? I would have to quit my job, give up my business. In this economy that is suicide! In any economy walking away from a job is suicide! My job sure isn’t going to just let me take a three month vacation! Ok, so what about locally? I checked. Yes, there were many local internships that were just as amazing. However, internship hours were the same as working hours. Monday through Friday between the hours of 8am and 6pm. Some were later, some were earlier. So what is a 30-something to do!

Frustrated, I had to find a way to get experience! So, what is an internship anyway? Basically, you are a volunteer. Bingo!!! Volunteer was the answer. Volunteers are not limited to a certain amount of hours you have to complete. Volunteers do not have specific days they have to be there. Volunteers can set their own schedule, and best of all…most places offer weekend volunteer hours!!

So what is my advice to the 30, 40 or 50-something, non-traditional student…VOLUNTEER. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Hospitals, museums, non-profits are great! But what if they don’t offer the experience you need? Approach a business that does have what you need. They don’t have to be nonprofits. Most businesses are happy if not more than willing to accept someone wanting to do the work for free!

Tell them what you are doing and why you want to be a volunteer at their business. Be truthful, you are a student. You are trying to make a career change but you lack experience in the field. Would they be willing to allow you to volunteer at their business so you can gain the experience? I haven’t been turned down yet and now I can say I have one year museum experience and 3 years clerical. It can get hectic with our busy schedules but you knew it wasn’t going to be easy when you went back to school at 30!

Gaming and Disadvantaged Youth

This is sort of a follow up to my last post about hiring gamers and the current job market. I wanted to know how low-income youth were competing for these skills. I did a 'little' research and discovered that they were at a disadvantage. This problem is called the 'Digital Divide.'

Low-income and at-risk youth are at a disadvantage in today’s job market due to the fact that they have limited or no access to computers, internet service, broadband or important computer software. Multi-player online games require high speed internet service. Xbox, PlayStation and WII all have online capabilities. Players are able to play online with friends and others from around the country. All systems require access to the internet. Along with the need for internet access the player also needs the software and computer hardware necessary to run the games. Necessary computer components can cost thousands of dollars and games can run from $19 to $60 per game. Online subscriptions can run from free to $20 monthly fees. The following studies show the statistical disadvantages that low income youth have compared to high income youth in these areas.

Table 1

A summary of computer and Internet access for students living in households with incomes of $15,000 or less, versus students living in households with incomes of $75,000 or more.

Tab le 1. Computer and Internet Access: Differences by Income

Income Level	Computer at home	Internet access at home	Broadband at home
Above $75,000	96%	93%	51%
Below $15,000	45%	29%	7%

Sources : National Center for Education Statistics, Internet Access in U.S. Public Schools and Classrooms:

1994- 2003. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education (2005); U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current

Population Survey, (September 2004). Accessed through (Venegas, 2005).

The data presented above highlights how differences in income correlate with great disparities in access to computers at home. Less than 50 percent of low income students have a computer available to them at home to complete school assignments, much less to access the Internet. There are even greater gaps in access to the Internet. Less than 30 percent of low-income students have Internet access at home and only 7 percent have a high speed Internet connection.

Jeff Carver, a Professor at the University of Maryland wrote in his research that, “The gap between the usage of computers and the Internet by high-income and low-income groups is growing. This issue is one that will greatly affect the future of America. If people are unable to use the technology needed to be successful, then in a few years from now, this country could be at a disadvantage compared with others. There are many indicators that the problem is not one of lack of desire by the users, rather it is more an access and guidance problem (Carver, 2000).”

The NPR, Kaiser Family Foundation and the Kennedy School conducted a poll in 1999 to study the widespread enthusiasm for technology. The found what they called the ‘Digital Divide’. The poll showed that: There was a widening gap between the haves and have nots:

“Americans are more likely to say computers widen the gap (45%) in income and opportunity between the haves and have not’s in society than to say computers narrow the gap (11%) or do not make much of a difference (39%). Most (57%) believe the government should help low-income people get access to computers and the Internet (and 78% say the government should help low-income children) (NPR, 1999).

Schools are helping with computer access but studies show that 94% of wealthy schools have access to internet where only 84% of schools that serve the poor population have access. Also, The Commerce Department estimates there were six students for each computer in K-12 schools in 1999 (Department of Commerce, 1999). The Department of Commerce stated that the “Demand for highly-skilled information technology workers leads all other occupations and is expected to continue in the years ahead (Department of Commerce, 1999).”

CivSource is a website dedicated to providing the latest news on country, state and local politics, management and business. In a 2010 article written by Jeffery Smith; Smith writes that, “According to an analysis conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Projects, the internet and related technologies remain much more pervasive for high-income earners than other groups of Americans. After controlling for a number of characteristics, like community types, race, age and education, the report found income was the biggest determinant… (Smith, 2010).”

It seems to me that here is a cause that game companies can support. I have seen many of them give to disaster relief, but this is something that is right up their alley. Donate games and gaming software to schools or related non-profits. This would make a huge social impact and put gaming in a whole new light.

Sources:

1. Jeff Carver, University of Maryland Internet and Computer Usage by Low-Income Groups. http://otal.umd.edu/uuguide/carver/
2. NPR Online, http://www.npr.org/programs/specials/poll/technology/
3. Kristan Venegas, Internet and College Access: Challenges for Low-Income Students. http://www.aft.org/pdfs/highered/academic/january07/Venegas.pdf
4. Kaiser Family Foundation: http://www.kff.org/entpartnerships/upload/Public-Service-Ads-to-Help-Disadvantaged-Youth-Bridge-the-Digital-Divide-Fact-Sheet.pdf
5. CivSource: http://civsourceonline.com/2010/11/29/digital-divide-deepens-between-income-levels-new-survey-finds/
6. D-Lib Magazine: http://www.dlib.org/dlib/february02/kirriemuir/02kirriemuir.html

Low Morale or Productivity? Hire a 'Gamer'

Think sitting in front of a computer or console is a complete waste of time, well think again!

Research has shown that multiplayer online games can and are crucial to the way we do business. Byron Reeves; a Professor at Stanford University and author of over 100 published studies, and J. Leighton Read; physician, inventor, successful biotechnologist founder, CEO and venture capitalist together co-authored the book, Total Engagement: : Using Games and Virtual Worlds to Change the Way People Work and Businesses Compete. The book teaches businesses how to incorporate the principles of gaming into the work place. Their research shows how computer gaming applies to the work place by addressing such topics as, selecting game design features that can address your company’s pain points, using avatars to increase engagement and productivity, employing virtual currencies to help employees set priorities, share resources, and meet goals, implementing participant driven communication systems to facilitate team building, discovering untapped leadership skills by shifting collaboration to game-like environments, and mitigating possible negative effects of game applications at work.

Reeves and Read show how implementing elements of the game into the workplace can solve problems such as morale and communication and can help hone skills like data analysis, teamwork, recruitment and leadership (Read, 2010). “This isn't just possible, say Byron Reeves and J. Leighton Read; it's inevitable. As employee productivity and engagement become more critical, the user experience provided by game technology offers a tantalizing solution for business. This is far more than a quaint metaphor or a twist on e-learning.”

Gaming is a social trend that is here to stay. Jane McGonigal, author of : Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World, uses scientific research on what happens with the brain when gaming to show how gaming effects human behavior and creates better, happier and more productive people. She points out the four aspects of gaming that businesses can incorporate. They are: The ability to have satisfying work, the opportunity of learning with a hope of success, the ability to interact with people and a sense of epic meaning that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

McGonigal shows that the amount of gamers across the world continues to grow. There are currently 183 million ‘active gamers’ in American alone. There are 4 million in the Middle East, 10 million in Russia, 5 million in India, 10 million in Vietnam, 10 million in Mexico, 13 million in Central and South America, 100+ million in China. In America 69% of head of households, male and female are gamers and over 97% of youth participate in online and console gaming. 40% are women one out of 4 gamers are over 50, the average 35 year old has been playing for 12 years and most players plan on playing for the rest of their lives (McGonagal).

The Creighton University College of Business had this to say about gaming and business,

“For a long time (and still to this day) video games have had a negative connotation. Gaming was thought to be a prominent source of violence, laziness, damaged relationships and even addiction. While gaming may affect different people in different ways, some health professionals and business people alike are starting to promote the positive aspects “gaming.”

There’s an entire slew of recent research supporting video games and their positive impact on human brain functionality. A study from Nottingham University says that video games can actually improve one’s mental capacity. And for those who are opposed to “shoot ‘em up” type games, think again! Those who engage in shooting games can reap the rewards, as they “improve visual skills by increasing the brain’s capacity to spread attention over a wide range of events,” according to one study at the University of Rochester (M., 2011).”

Major companies are using gaming to increase productivity and reduce cost. According to David Edery, worldwide games portfolio manager for Microsoft’s Xbox live arcade and research affiliate of MIT Comparative Media Studies Program, and Ethan Mollick, who studies innovation and entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management, MBA from MIT and BA from Harvard University, in their book, Changing the Game: How Video Games are Transforming the Future of Business, “Microsoft has used games to painlessly and cost-effectively quadruple voluntary employee participation in important tasks. Medical schools have used game like simulators to train surgeons, reducing the error rate in practice by a factor of six. A recruiting game developed by the US army, for just .25% of the Army’s total advertising budget, has had more impact on new recruits than all other forms of Army advertising combined. And Google is using video games to turn its visitors into a giant voluntary labor force; encouraging them to manually label the millions of images found on the Web that Google’s computers cannot identify on their own (Mollick).”

So, having problems in the workplace with enthusiasm, morale, communication, productivity...well, just find that gamer in the group and get to work on a strategy for turning it all around!

Sources:

McGonigal,Jane: Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

Reeves, Byron & Read, J. Leighton: Total Engagement: Using Games and Virtual Worlds to Change the Way People Work and Businesses Compete.

Edery, David and Mollick, Ethan:Changing the Game; how video games are transforming the future of business: