3 x how to support young adults at the beginning of their careers

Efficacy means that the employee feels that they know their work, are doing well and can cope with it. Important lessons learned at the beginning of one’s career include stress management skills and the ability to cope with challenging situations.

These factors, among others, were examined in a project by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health that involved many different employers from both the public and private sectors.

“Three important ways of supporting young adults at the beginning of their careers came up,” says Senior Specialist Telma Rivinoja.

1. Strengthen the sense of efficacy

It is important to experience feelings of success in one’s first job.

“Give feedback – above all, concrete positive feedback. Tell the employee where they succeeded and help them identify their strengths,” Rivinoja advises.

Instead of just saying ‘well done’, explicate the successful moments: for example, say: ‘you took the customer’s needs into account really well.’

2. Strengthen the sense of management in one’s work

Make sure that the young employee manages their workload, i.e. scale their tasks correctly, bearing in mind that they may not have formed routines yet.

“Give them time to learn and increase their workload gradually, as they gain experience and skills,” says Rivinoja.

Make the work role clear from the beginning: explain the tasks, responsibilities and goals involved. Also help with identifying priorities.

3. Offer support

A young employee may not be equipped to handle difficult situations and may freeze when faced with unexpected challenges.

“Make time to talk with the employee. Be there and help them move on after facing difficult challenges,” says Rivinoja.

She notes that a young employee should not be left to work alone too much. Dealing with other people develops many skills: colleagues can teach you routines and effective working methods