In the last post, Finding Here Part II – Freefall, Leap Here shared some observations and thoughts on the journey to common ground. This post is a continuation of Finding Here.
“Here.”
The timing was right for me…unfashionably late. If it wasn’t apparent before, it is even more apparent now, that I’m in a marathon and there is a lot of effort being made to share forward opportunity and access.
It is great to see the efforts being made in the state of Iowa through The Future Ready Iowa Employer Innovation Fund! The latest press release is full of examples showing companies making progress through creating opportunities for people from various levels of education and experience.
I’ve experienced some career success and failures, but never a lack of opportunity. And now, I’m learning enough to know there is more to learn to support giving forward opportunities and access. The marathon continues.
Hard Landing, Now Start Running – Toward the Challenge!
There are some hard realities to land on while seeking to connect people. A specific reality that I’ve acknowledged and am seeking to understand is the number of opportunities that require a person to “hit the ground running.”
It is probably an unrealistic expectation for organizations to always be prepared for change; however, having a plan of action ready and on-hand seems to be sound advice for building a better company culture. 1 Perhaps the need to have someone “hit the ground running” is a warning indicator that more time or outside support is needed. Perhaps it’s a sign that an organization has “undergone internal flux and is now looking for quick fixes”1 and not a jogging partner.
It is possible to teach a driven person a new skill, like testing software. Yes, but it requires an investment of time and commitment from team members or leadership in an organization. Yes, people with various levels of education and experience have the aptitude to learn new IT skills. I’ve lived it. Before knowing where I would attend college, even before I took my first ACT, I had internships testing software.
Still Learning
There is much to learn about the challenges of skills gaps, unfilled positions, and labor shortages in the Engineering, IT, and Scientific sectors. Some of these challenges are hard to understand when you meet driven and committed people still seeking opportunities but not meeting experience requirements. I’m seeking to understand and build from vantage points that I’ve seen and that I’m listening to from people. What may seem simple and clear from one vantage point may actually be complex and cloudy from another.
Leap Here wants to avoid introducing noise and is seeking to help bring forward ideas and helping hands for solutions. This could be in the form of a partner willing to invest in and help engage new team members.
Looking Up
If you’re still seeking access to opportunities, then I encourage you to remember the story of David and Goliath. It was David’s faith, effort, and apparent disadvantages that actually helped him to win a battle where he may have been overlooked as a contender 2. Stay focused because distractions are around every corner. Celebrate your efforts, fight for development, and then battle for consistency. Continue to appreciate your current skills, your gifts, and your journey because each one is valuable as you take steps to Grow Forward.
If you’re a startup or established business and you’re “Here”, on common ground, then you may also be seeing the need for new solutions when connecting people to opportunities.
How does your company support connecting to and investing in new hires from various levels of education and experience?
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