When new graduates come into a company, experienced professionals often take little or no notice. After all, new employees are usually inexperienced and green, which can make them seem like liabilities. Instead of ignoring new graduates or passing them over, seasoned professionals can learn from these young, entry-level employees and use the lessons to create a sense of renewed professional enthusiasm.
After years in the same industry, experienced professionals often become entrenched in a specific way of thinking. They are so accustomed to the practices, jargon, and people in their companies or fields that they lose the ability to think outside of the box. New graduates, however, are not burdened by experience and knowledge of the real world. As such, they often feel more freedom to come up with creative solutions or ideas that push the boundaries of accepted practices. Although their solutions may not be feasible, the tendency of new college graduates to think outside of standard procedures is a valuable asset to a company. By combining years of ground-level knowledge with innovative thinking, experienced professional can come up with cutting-edge solutions.
New college graduates are usually untested and eager to prove themselves. Each new task is a challenge, which gives young employees the energy and motivation to work harder and stretch themselves professionally. For experienced professionals, exciting new challenges are often scarce, which can lead to burnout or boredom. As a management professional, you can help your experienced employees rediscover their youthful enthusiasm by providing new growth opportunities at all levels. Give managers the chance to participate in cross-training workshops, for example, or encourage experienced professionals to take on different responsibilities with a new client. As a result, you'll end up with a well-rounded team and give your employees new insight into different aspects of the business.
When it comes to new technology developments, young graduates tend to be more connected and on-trend than older employees. Many recent graduates grew up with social media and other technology-dependent tools, so they naturally integrate new programs into their daily lives. If your company is dealing with a youthful target audience, even experienced professionals must stay up-to-date on the latest developments in communication. By encouraging your older staff members to follow trends in social media, technology, and other industries, your company will be able to capitalize on tools that will boost the bottom line.
In addition to technology trends, young graduates are also more likely than seasoned employees to be on top of the latest in consumer trends. Employees that understand the latest in fashion, electronics, social issues, and current events are better able to understand customers, which can be a lifelong benefit—particularly in the case of a career change. For older employees that leave a company and re-enter the job market, age bias can be a nasty surprise. According to a recent story in MarketWatch, companies are often reluctant to hire older people. By staying on top of industry trends, experienced professionals can retain their edge.
When it comes to learning from new graduates, one of the most important lessons for a seasoned professional involves enthusiasm. By letting go of a jaded viewpoint and embracing the novelty and excitement of their industries, older workers can discover more joy in their jobs, and because happy employees tend to be more satisfied in their personal and professional lives, enthusiasm bodes well for workers and employers.
Whether you're managing experienced professionals or looking for ways to reinvigorate your career, it can pay to learn from new graduates. By taking a page from the books of these new, excited professionals, you can add new life and energy to your business.
Photo courtesy of imagerymajestic / freedigitalphotos.net
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