Hiring young workers in B.C.: No experience? No problem
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Hiring+young+workers+experience+problem/4325283/story.html#ixzz1FVKh6ZYe
Summary
Dwaina Sprague is a successful interior designer and the co-owner of Good Space Design Group. When she graduated from BCIT 20 years ago, she found that it was extremely difficult to get into the competitive profession, because employers generally looked for the more experienced designers with a university degree. Her instructors told her that “you are not going to get a job when you leave this program. You are going to be working in a tile store or a wallpaper store or a furniture store.” Sprague told herself that if she ever had the chance, she would give the newer designers an easier time getting into the business. Recently, she employed a few junior designers, including Josephina Puharich and Lauren Webb.
Connections
This article provides a great example of frictional unemployment, one of the many types of unemployment. Frictional employment is when individuals are hopping between jobs or are just entering the labor force. Frictional unemployment usually does not last long and individuals will find work fairly quickly. Frictional unemployment exists because it takes time to find a job and during this time people are unemployed. In the article, Sprague was frictionally unemployed, because she had just graduated from BCIT and she remained unemployed while looking for a job. Another note about frictional unemployment is that it’s usually higher when the demand for the product or service is high and there are many jobs. Referring to the article, the employers back then looked for more experienced designers which meant that there was a relatively low demand for designers who were just entering the labor force. Since the demand was low and there were fewer jobs, there was likely a lower rate of frictional unemployment back then.
Reflections
Connections
This article provides a great example of frictional unemployment, one of the many types of unemployment. Frictional employment is when individuals are hopping between jobs or are just entering the labor force. Frictional unemployment usually does not last long and individuals will find work fairly quickly. Frictional unemployment exists because it takes time to find a job and during this time people are unemployed. In the article, Sprague was frictionally unemployed, because she had just graduated from BCIT and she remained unemployed while looking for a job. Another note about frictional unemployment is that it’s usually higher when the demand for the product or service is high and there are many jobs. Referring to the article, the employers back then looked for more experienced designers which meant that there was a relatively low demand for designers who were just entering the labor force. Since the demand was low and there were fewer jobs, there was likely a lower rate of frictional unemployment back then.
Reflections
Hiring younger workers comes with many benefits. Probably the most important benefit is the fact that technology and social media has been developing so fast during the past few decades. As you get older it becomes harder to keep up with the latest trends or the latest Apple product. I agree that younger workers are more of an asset than a liability to a business because of what we can bring to the table. A few other benefits include being new to the business world and therefore not having any “bad habits.” In conclusion, I feel that the employers out there should understand that the younger workers may prove to be fairly successful employees due to their willingness to learn and their desire to contribute to society.
I completely agree with your statement regarding the benefits of hiring younger workers. What seems baffling to me is how many employers demand copious amounts of work experience from graduate students to even be considered applicable for the job opening. Do they not realize that we all have to start somewhere and from that point continue to build our resume? It is a great thing how Dwaina Sprague can relate to her past and not forget about it by giving new designers an easier time getting into the business. People like Dwaina Sprague make me feel secure at night when I think about how I will find a job after I am done with my education.
ReplyDeleteI am admiring your very well written blog.
-Benny Chow
We have all experience something that we don’t like and promised to ourselves that if we get the opportunity we would change the way things are. I have thought about that and so did Dwaina Sprague. I think that Dwaina Sprague did a stupendous in hiring younger workers, because I think that it is important that less experienced individuals get the chance to gain knowledge. Anyways, younger workers are more apt at learning new skills as you mentioned above about technology. This can relate to the chaos occurring in Egypt. The social uproar was just caused because many young and talented people are unemployed so they display their dissatisfaction by leading protests. It is unfathomable what a young and restless community can do.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I love the article that you chose because it is very safe to know that there will be people out there that will help me if I finish post-secondary and need a job. Your blog was also quite interesting.
Elena Jiang Su
I agree with you that this is a frictional unemployment because it takes time for new young workers to find jobs these days. Employers out there are looking for more rounded workers with some experience. I see how you came up with your decision of young people has an advantage over more experienced old people. It is true that young people has the ability to keep up the pace of work than old experienced people but I think old experienced people has its advantages as well. Experienced workers have more experience in making smart decisions than young people. Experienced workers are more mature and they have experience to know what decisions are the best to make. Experienced workers may not outlast young people physically but I believe that they are better, mentally in doing its job. Making decisions in your job is a key aspect of finding jobs. Other than that I thought your connection was really in depth and detailed. You had a firm reflection on the article and you made a strong argument in your point.
ReplyDeleteNice Job, Jimmy!
-Joshua Thang