Why, when they recruit, develop and promote their people, do hirers in the public sector, businesses and so many other organisations base their first cull of the applicants on their qualifications, certificates, accreditations or lack of? Why are we so quick to bin applications from people who may not yet have acquired all the right bits of paper?
Why are so many good people then forced into two- or three-year training courses, at their own or their parents’ expense?
Whatever happened to training on the job, acquiring skills, and certificates, in the working environment, rather than the artificial life of a college or university where workplace skills like teamwork, cultural fit, timekeeping and reliability don’t exactly rank high on the agenda?
A plea – check out the character stuff on CV’s with as much interest as the education/training. You’d be amazed how many of our most successful men and women, including me, got where they are using initiative, personality, bloodymindedness and instinct.
