The Essential Ingredients for Successful Graduate Training and Development Programmes

Jan. 29, 2008 - PRLog -- Top companies are always looking to add excellent people to their teams. However, they need these college graduates to not only have the potential to  become a valuable asset to the business, they also need them to realise that potential quickly so as to deliver a return on the company's investment in them. University graduates whether from a business course, MBA or otherwise need to hit the ground running and start adding value as quickly as possible. If they don’t come up to the required standard, then companies can’t afford to be carrying dead wood.

So what are essential elements of graduate training programmes, which will equip a new entrant with the necessary key skills to start delivering? Obviously, a lot will depend on the company, the actual role and the specific tasks required to be completed by university graduates. There are key areas which are generic and can supplement the company's strategy for improving the performance of not only the individuals but also the organisation. Businesses need to recognise that investment in the graduates at this early stage will contribute to the  improvement of performance of the business.

From our experience new graduates will need a basket of skills to enable them to perform and develop into key employees. In considering the day to day tasks the graduates will be asked to undertake in the workplace these are the key competencies  programmes could be constructed around.

1.Organisational Objectives
It is important for graduates to understand the business objectives of the company – what is the company mission statement? Without knowing this how  can they contribute towards meeting them and improving the performance of the Company. If there is no perspective they won’t now what’s expected of them, where they are going or why.

2. Effective Communication
Understanding behaviour is a powerful way to increase both personal and organisational communications. These are the building blocks of emotional intelligence.

       *       Understanding communication processes & methods
       *       Environmental behaviour
       *       Understanding body language
       *       Questioning and listening
       *       Using positive language to influence, encourage and persuade
others
       *       Different learning styles
       *       Personal learning log with action points

3.  Team-working
       *       Working with Others
       *       The building blocks of high performing teams
       *       Understanding your team role
       *       Team theory

4. Creative Thinking
The new graduate intake offers a wealth of  talent with new ideas and the potential to have fresh innovative ideas.
       *       Problem-solving
       *       Creativity
       *       Developing ideas

5. Negotiation Skills
This is another key area which needs to be looked at by University graduates going into business. This is especially important if working in sales or any job which involves purchasing or transactions.

6. Presentation Skills
This is both written and oral. This skill is becoming increasingly important especially where many pieces of work have to be fought for in competitive tendering situations.

7. Customer Service
If your university graduates will be interacting with your business customers then this area is key.

8.Time Management
There will be so much to take in for the graduates when they first start that it will be difficult for them to manage their time. You want them to get into good habits from day 1 and carry these through their working life with the business. They need to be able to prioritise between what’s important and what’s urgent.

Find out about the Graduate Training Programmes (http://www.corporate-training-events.co.uk/programme/grad...) on the Call of the Wild (Corporate) website (http://www.corporate-training-events.co.uk).

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Call of the Wild offer Team Building and Management Training and Development and Leadership Training Programmes in the Brecon Beacons (Wales) and throughout the UK. We also offer Corporate Events and Fun days - all using our unique approach through the natural environment.

Website: www.corporate-training-events.co.uk