Financial Times, UK: Cognizant’s Vice President of Human Resources for Europe and Africa Outlines Ways for Organizations to Attract Both Young and Mature Employees

“While it is vital for every business to identify and recruit dynamic, fresh talent to their organization, the benefits that mature employees can offer must not be overlooked,” says Fiona Woods. Excerpts:

“It is vital to use an older generation’s expertise and experience to enrich the careers of the entire workforce, meet business objectives and boost company performance by sharing knowledge with colleagues throughout the company.

Millennial workers are more likely to enter the workplace completely at ease with a range of technology, communication and social media tools, and are naturally predisposed to learning new ones much more easily.

The right training is also important in attracting talent across the age spectrum. For example, experienced employees may have excellent industry knowledge and great customer management skills but may appreciate training in social networking or using collaborative tools. On the other hand, “digital natives” could benefit from guidance on managing clients, working in a team, acquiring business skills, and developing industry knowledge.

Flexible working today is expected by all generations, who value being able to determine the hours or locations in which they work, whether part-time employment, flexible hours, and working from home or remotely. The use of SMAC-based technology makes this feasible, as employees can work from any device and location while collaborating with colleagues.

Comprehensive mentoring schemes should also be considered. This gives all employees the opportunity to share valuable knowledge with colleagues.

Recruiting young people is important; however, businesses should look for ways to attract candidates of ages, allowing them to contribute a mixture of established and newer working practices.”

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