Business Studies · Ch 6 — Staffing
On the Job Methods
On the Job Methods
On the Job Methods
On-the-job methods place the employee in a real work environment, learning by doing under the supervision of an experienced person. These methods are practical, cost-effective, and directly relevant to the job the trainee will eventually perform. The textbook discusses four main on-the-job methods.
(i) Apprenticeship Programmes
An apprenticeship programme puts the trainee under the guidance of a master worker — a highly skilled and experienced professional. The core purpose is to help the trainee acquire a higher level of skill in a trade. This method is commonly required for people seeking entry into skilled jobs such as plumbers, electricians, or ironworkers.
Apprentices spend a prescribed amount of time working directly with an experienced guide or trainer. A uniform period of training is offered to all trainees in the programme, meaning both fast learners and slow learners are placed together in the same batch. Because of this, slow learners may require additional training beyond the standard period to reach the required level of proficiency.
(ii) Coaching
In coaching, the superior guides and instructs the trainee much like a sports coach would. The coach (or counselor) sets mutually agreed-upon goals with the trainee, suggests how to achieve those goals, and periodically reviews the trainee's progress. The coach also suggests changes required in the trainee's behaviour and performance.
The trainee works directly with a senior manager, and that manager takes full responsibility for the trainee's coaching. Classically, the trainee is being groomed to eventually replace the senior manager or to relieve the manager from some of their duties. This arrangement gives the trainee a valuable chance to learn the job hands-on while being personally mentored.
(iii) Internship Training
Internship training is a joint programme in which educational institutions and business firms cooperate. Selected candidates carry on their regular studies for the prescribed period at their educational institution. Simultaneously, they also work in some factory or office to acquire practical knowledge and skills. This combination of classroom learning and real-world work experience is the defining feature of internship training.